# EUR-Lex - 52014DC0440 - EN

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# 52014DC0440

**COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS GREEN ACTION PLAN FOR SMEs Enabling SMEs to turn environmental challenges into business opportunities /* COM/2014/0440 final */**

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Introduction
and context

The March 2014 European Council highlighted that Europe needs a strong and competitive industrial base, in terms of both production and
investment, as a key driver for economic growth and jobs. Resource efficiency[1] is one of the main
drivers of companies' competitiveness since, reportedly, European manufacturing
firms spend, on average, 40% of their costs on raw materials, with energy and
water pushing this to 50% of total manufacturing costs, to be compared to
a share of 20% for labour costs.[2] The European Council
further called for sustained efforts to moderate the energy costs borne by
energy end-users, in particular through sustained investment in energy
efficiency and demand-side management all along the value chain and at the
R& D stage.

Resource efficiency improvements do indeed require
combining a value chain approach with the implementation of complex technical
solutions at company level. It is estimated that resource efficiency
improvements all along the value chains could reduce material inputs needs by 17%-24% by 2030[3].
Moreover, in the EU, currently, 60% of total waste is not
recycled, composted or reused,[4]
which indicates an enormous leakage of valuable resources and significant
business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)[5]
that can apply and sell green products, services and solutions. Business
opportunities can also be created from integrating more circular business
models and green technologies into existing and future SMEs across all sectors,
including services.

The Europe 2020 Strategy outlines the EU’s priority to
become a sustainable economy and set ambitious objectives for climate action
and energy efficiency.  The Small Business Act (SBA)[6] highlighted that the EU and Member States should enable SMEs to turn environmental challenges into opportunities. The Green
Action Plan (GAP) gives a clear direction and framework for how the EU, in
partnership with Member States and regions, intends to help SMEs exploit the
business opportunities that the transition to a green economy[7] offers.  This
initiative concretely presents a series of new or revised SME-oriented actions
proposed at European level. The GAP aims to (1) improve resource
efficiency of European SMEs, (2) support green entrepreneurship, (3) exploit the
opportunities of greener value chains, and (4) facilitate market
access for green SMEs.[8] It is presented in
complementarity with the Communication Green
Employment Initiative. – Tapping into the job creation potential of the green
economy, which proposes a roadmap for supporting green jobs
creation across the EU, and with the Communication Resource Efficiency
Opportunities in the Building Sector as well as with the Circular Economy Package
and Waste Target Review.

The Green Action Plan aims to contribute to the
re-industrialisation of Europe as advocated by the European Industrial
Renaissance Communication (COM (2014) 14) and supported by the
European Council, by enhancing SMEs competitiveness and supporting green
business developments across all European regions, notably in view of the fact
that, at this stage, significant differences in resource efficiency exist
between sectors and Member States.

The Action Plan builds on the Eco-Innovation Action Plan
(EcoAP)[9], which provides
directions for eco-innovation policy and funding under the umbrella of the
Europe 2020 strategy. A number of actions and instruments of the EcoAP are
highly relevant for SMEs. Examples are the European Innovation Scoreboard, the
Eco-innovation Observatory, the European Forum on Eco-innovation, European
Innovation Partnerships and financing instruments for eco-innovation under
Horizon 2020. The actions featured in the Green Action Plan and the EcoAP are,
therefore, complementary and generate important synergies. Throughout the
implementation stage proper coordination will be ensured between the EcoAP and
the Green Action Plan.

The Green Action Plan focuses on European level actions
which are designed to fit in with, and reinforce existing 'green' initiatives
to support SMEs at national and regional levels.[10] It was drafted through
consultation with, and will be implemented in cooperation with actors in the Member
States that are active in this area. Most Member States and many regions have
dedicated organisations and instruments not least through Regional Policy
funding that provide support to SMEs in the areas that are the subject of this Action
Plan. Such actions include provision of information, capacity building,
promoting cooperation and networking, direct financing, facilitating access to
finance, etc.

The Green Action Plan sets out a series of objectives and
lists actions that will be implemented at European level within the framework
of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020.[11] All the actions are either new or revised versions of previous
actions that now take into account the potential for business of resource
efficiency and access to green markets.[12] The actions
also take into account the results of the public consultation on the Green Action Plan that
took place during the fourth quarter of 2013.[13]

Concrete information on the actions that appear in this
Communication, with reference to the programmes that support them, such as the
European Structural and Investment Funds, COSME, Horizon 2020, Erasmus +, LIFE
or the Partnership Instrument, will be punctually uploaded on the website of
the European Commission, Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry[14]:

http://wcmcom-ec-europa-eu-wip.wcm3vue.cec.eu.int:8080/enterprise/policies/sme/public-
consultation-green-action-plan/index en.htm

I. Greening SMEs for more competitiveness and
sustainability

Improving resource efficiency in SMEs offers enormous
potential for the reduction of production costs and for productivity gains. A
better use of resources is calculated to represent an overall savings potential
of €630
billion
per year for European industry.[15]
Too few SMEs in Europe are aware of this potential. Moreover, SMEs are not sufficiently
supported in their efforts to realise potential cost savings through better
resource efficiency. This may not only lead to a widening productivity gap in
Europe between companies who make resource efficiency improvements and those
who do not, but also weaken the overall competitiveness of European firms as
well as the chances of many SMEs to position themselves in global value chains.

Why is this important
for SMEs?

European SMEs are generally aware that being resource
efficient is important given that 75% of SMEs in the EU have seen an increase
in their costs of materials in the past five years. At least 93% of SMEs in the EU are taking at least one
action to be more resource efficient which, in most cases, is a low-cost
action. However, only 42% of SMEs that implement measures to improve
resource efficiency has seen a reduction of their production costs.[16]
This indicates the necessity to provide guidance to SMEs on the
cost-effectiveness of resource efficiency investments.

Moreover, there are large differences between the levels of
resource efficiency in the manufacturing sector across Member States. Energy
use and waste generation for a specific type of production differ considerably
between manufacturing companies in the different European countries.[17]

Resource efficiency improvements require specialised
knowledge usually not available in SMEs, which thus need advice to spot the
potential long-term benefits of innovating their processes and organisation to
improve resource efficiency. Furthermore, SMEs seeking financing for large
up-front investments for resource efficiency find, in some cases, that
financial intermediaries consider this a high-risk domain. Therefore, it is
important firstly to encourage SMEs to seek appropriate resource efficiency
advice, through SME oriented business campaigns and, secondly, to
provide them with such advice in their regions.

The Commission has set several objectives to be achieved
through the following actions:

1. Provide European SMEs with
practical information, advice and support on how to improve their resource
efficiency in a cost-effective manner:

§ The European Resource
Efficiency Excellence Centre, to be set up in 2015 building on proven
experience in support of resource efficiency in the Member States, will advise
and assist SMEs seeking to improve their resource efficiency performance,
directly and through a network of partners across European regions, and become
a reference point on the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of different types
of resource efficiency improvements across the EU. The Centre will
also provide information on, and, where appropriate, refer SMEs to national
strategies, programmes and actions in the field of resource efficiency and SME
support.

§ 
The Eurobarometer on 'SMEs, resource efficiency and green markets'
will assess resource efficiency trends amongst SMEs across Europe and the US,
to guide further policy developments in this area.

§ The Enterprise Europe
Network (EEN)[18]
will
be encouraged to (1) organize a European Resource Efficiency Campaign
with awareness raising activities (information on their websites, social media,
presentations at (existing network) events, B2B events) to inform SMEs of the
positive benefits and opportunities offered by resource efficiency and (2) provide resource
efficiency advisory services to SMEs.

§ Managing Authorities of
European Structural and Investment Funds will be supported by the Commission in
encouraging projects in the field of resource efficiency and in publicising the
business opportunities of green markets, especially by showcasing successful
examples and tools from across the EU.

2. 
Support
efficient technology transfer mechanisms for green technologies:

§ The commercialisation
of green technologies is of high priority for SME growth in the green economy.
Therefore, the technology transfer database of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), with more than 23,000 profiles, will continue
to update the classification of keywords describing resource efficiency and
climate related technologies to better match supply and demand among SME clients.

§ Moreover, EEN partners will be
invited to ensure close cooperation between the different sector groups dealing
with resource efficiency to facilitate the exchange of information and transfer
of best practice.

3. 
Facilitate
the access to finance for resource-related improvements and energy efficiency in
SMEs

§ Several SME-oriented
websites of the European Commission will be updated to better feature available
environmental information, EU funding available for resource efficiency
improvements as well as non-financial support available for SMEs.

§ 
The
European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide financing through financial
intermediaries for resource efficiency improvements linked to ecosystem
services and climate change adaptation with the Natural Capital Financing
Facility (NCFF).

§ 
Private
Finance for Energy Efficiency instruments (PF4EE) can support SMEs and mid-cap
larger companies, among others, undertaking small energy efficiency
investments, and which are capable of using energy savings to repay up-front
borrowing.

§ 
A network and community of public and private financiers
and investors that support eco-innovation will be established.

§ The
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Maritime and
Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the period 2014-2020 will support SMEs
competitiveness, including improving their energy efficiency and use of
renewable energy sources as well as resource efficiency as these are listed as
investment priorities. Therefore, such investments might be selected by Member States and regions for ERDF and EMFF
funding.

II. Green entrepreneurship for the companies of the
future

Preventing and correcting environmental damage
and moving towards a low carbon economy is a societal challenge which also
offers new business opportunities for enterprises. Yet, 'eco-innovation', just
like any other types of innovation, needs a fertile ecosystem to flourish and
green innovators depend on support to develop their ideas and on access to
finance to implement them. The development of green entrepreneurship benefits from the
proximity to knowledge institutions as well as from the availability of skilled
labour and industrial relationships that facilitate cross-sectoral cooperation,
conditions which enable the emergence of eco-innovative clusters.

Why is this important for SMEs?

SMEs need a favourable business environment, in which green
ideas can be easily developed, financed and brought to the market. 'Green entrepreneurship' should already be
addressed in (higher) education, to prepare the mind-set of future green
entrepreneurs. 'Green entrepreneurship' should also be encouraged by helping potential
entrepreneurs in identifying business opportunities resulting from the move
towards a resource efficient, low carbon economy, including through new
creative forms of cooperation between businesses and academia. All forms of innovation
that foster green entrepreneurship should be supported. Indeed, green entrepreneurship is also fostered by new
business ideas that combine resource efficiency with creativity, such as the
new phenomenon of 'upcycling' combining recycling with design. Further to that,
more needs to be done to capitalise on green technologies that are developed by
research and that have successfully demonstrated their feasibility. In this
context, it is essential to support SMEs to explore the scientific or technical
feasibility and the commercial potential of eco-innovative business ideas, since
many SMEs do not have the necessary resources to do it on their own.

The Commission has set several objectives to be
achieved through the following actions:

1. Promote all forms of eco-innovation, including
non-technological eco-innovation:

§ The SME Instrument under
Horizon 2020 will help SMEs explore the scientific or
technical feasibility and the commercial potential of highly eco-innovative ideas in order to
develop concrete new businesses. A positive assessment of its business
feasibility will allow for funding for demonstration activities. SMEs can
already apply for this support under specific calls focusing on eco-innovation
and supply of raw materials, eco-innovative food production and
processing, and innovation in a low carbon and efficient energy system.

§ In
Horizon 2020, actions under the societal challenge "Climate Action,
Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials" are supporting the
objectives of the Green Action Plan, in terms of increasing resource efficiency
through a systemic approach towards eco-innovation and the setting up of a
circular economy. All forms of innovation are covered. Different types of
activities going from research to demonstration, to market uptake, coordination
and networking are addressed.

§ The
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Agricultural Fund for
Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
for the period 2014-2020 will support SME competitiveness, targeting energy
efficiency and use of renewable energy sources. These are identified as
investment priories to be pursued by Member States and regions through their
operational programmes.

2. Facilitate business partnering, skills and
knowledge for green entrepreneurship:

§ 
The
Communication Green Employment Initiative. – Tapping into the job
creation potential of the green economy proposes a comprehensive roadmap for skills
development for the greening of the economy.

§ 
The
provision of high quality information on eco-innovation and eco-innovative SMEs
will be encouraged to boost confidence and reduce investment risks, through
initiatives like Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) currently being
implemented as an EU pilot programme.

§ New business models for
resource and energy efficiency in SMEs will be supported through the LIFE
programme.

§ The European Enterprise
Promotion Awards will recognise the efforts to support green entrepreneurship
by rewarding public bodies and public-private partnerships that support the
development of green markets and resource efficiency.

3. Exploit better the role of
clusters in support of eco-innovative SMEs:

§ Resource efficiency
will become a specific topic in the trainings under the Cluster Excellence
Programme (COSME 2014-2020) aimed at making cluster managers fully aware of the
potential actions that can be launched in their clusters to further boost
eco-innovation and resource-efficiency within and between their SME members.

III. Opportunities for SMEs in a greener value chain

Re-manufacturing, repair, maintenance, recycling and eco-design
have a great potential to become drivers of economic growth and job creation
while, at the same time, making a significant contribution to addressing
environmental challenges. Through innovation and the redesign of products and
of production and business models companies can reduce the use of expensive
primary raw materials and create less waste. The 60% of total waste in the EU which is not recycled,
composted or re-used,[19] offers economic
opportunities for SMEs to capitalise on cross-sectoral value chains that make
more efficient use of resources.

The 'circular'[20] or 'symbiotic'[21] economy enhances
resource and cost savings by maximising the time that resources, products and
components are used. Making better and more efficient use of resources by
reducing waste and converting waste into new goods and services requires
eco-innovation, new intermediaries and brokerage services. SMEs and
entrepreneurs need a supportive environment to engage in new industrial relationships
enabling them to move towards a circular economy.

Why is this important for
SMEs?

Despite evidence demonstrating the benefits of innovation
that reduces waste and of cross-sectoral value chain collaboration, a
combination of regulatory, institutional, technical and cultural obstacles
represent systemic barriers that still hinder more effective action and
networking among companies and thereby also higher resource efficiency. For
example, currently, 44% of large companies in the EU sell their scrap material
to another company, while only 24% of SMEs do so[22]. As it often requires
specialised knowledge and networks, SMEs frequently find it difficult to
develop and share knowledge on waste reduction and management and to exploit the
potential of avoiding waste and re-using products, materials and waste as
part of different value chains. High transaction costs and initial high
investment costs may further reduce the interest to enter into transactions
related to reuse and recycling of resources, in particular as the potential
benefits are difficult to determine ex-ante given the lack of experience and
uncertainties linked to variations in quality, specifications or delivery
times. Furthermore, exchanges within the value chain may pose technological
challenges as transformations and adaptations of the 'waste as by-products' may
need to be done before they can be reintroduced into the value-chain.

The
Commission has set several objectives to be achieved through the following
actions:

1. 
Address
systemic barriers to cross-sectoral and cross-national value chain
collaboration and business creation and cooperation, by facilitating the creation of service
business models and the re-use of materials, products and waste:

§ Analysis of the
systemic barriers impeding the deployment of circular business models by SMEs,
the efficient use of materials from waste streams and industrial symbiosis
processes. This is crucial for developing the best possible actions at EU level to address these
shortcomings and to promote the role of SMEs in the circular economy.

2. 
Facilitate
cross-sectoral collaboration in view of promoting the circular economy:

§ The forthcoming action
on 'Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains' under Horizon
2020
will
allocate at least 75% of the total budget to support innovation in
SMEs. It seeks to support cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration and
innovation projects driven by SMEs by better integrating them into clusters and
different value chains.

§ The European Cluster
Observatory will provide regions with a better mapping of geographic
concentrations of competences in eco-industries as well as identification and analysis of
cross-sectoral clustering trends, including cluster internationalisation and
industrial transformation trends related to eco-industries.

§ Model demonstrator
regions showcasing systemic eco-innovative solutions will be
identified.

§ The LIFE programme will
promote the take-up of the circular business models and showcase their benefits
for SMEs.

§ Establishment of an expert
group to focus on a systemic approach to eco-innovation in the framework of
Horizon 2020.

IV. Access to the markets for green SMEs

The EU has a strategic interest to adequately tackle
the major global environmental challenges such as climate change. With high
economic growth and, in some cases, early stages of industrialisation,
environmental depletion and emissions are growing at a high pace in many
countries of the world. Assisting these countries in a shift towards a green
economy will be crucial. At the same time, the EU has a leading role in
green and low carbon technologies, which offer great possibilities for
combining climate change and other environmental protection objectives with the
development of trade, investment and business for European companies, notably
SMEs, in these countries.

Why is this important for
SMEs?

The EU's international commitments in areas such as
climate change cooperation or neighbourhood policies offers concrete scope for
European SMEs with the relevant expertise to gain access to new markets for
their technologies, products and services aimed at an efficient reduction of
carbon emissions. The EU makes up roughly one third of the world market for
environmental industries and is a net exporter. This world market is
growing by 5% a year and is expected to triple by 2030[23], thus
offering important opportunities for EU businesses. However, few SMEs in the EU offer their green
technologies, products or services in countries outside the EU. 87% of SMEs in the EU only sell in their
national markets.[24]
This lack of SME internationalisation is usually explained by
the absence of a supportive framework that can help SMEs access foreign
markets.

SMEs stand a better chance to enter global value chains by
cooperating with other companies rather than by acting individually. Achieving
better resource efficiency in Europe and helping SMEs to successfully integrate
into global value chains requires more international cooperation. To compete
internationally, SMEs in the resource efficiency field need to look for
international partners not only to sell but also to source raw materials, and
gain access to research, knowledge or skills along the value chain. Such
cooperation is often facilitated by clusters which act as real
"springboards" for SMEs to, on the one hand, access international
markets and, on the other hand, enter into business cooperation and develop
long-term strategic partnerships along and across value chains. Moreover, the
international contacts and networks already established by multinationals,
universities and other institutions in their clusters can also be exploited by
SMEs.

The Commission has set several objectives to be
achieved through the following actions:

1. Promote a greener European internal market:

§ European Standardisation
Organisations will be encouraged to take into account circular economy
objectives when creating standards in order to continue the Commission's
previous efforts to integrate environmental aspects into European standardisation.[25]

2. Facilitate access to international markets for
green entrepreneurs:

§ Establishment of
European Strategic Cluster Partnerships fostering alliances between clusters from
different sectors, with a view to develop a joint strategy for internationalisation.
Alliances in the field of green technologies and eco-innovation will be
encouraged.

§ International
matchmaking missions will encourage cooperation in the fields of resource
efficiency and eco-innovation, and be prioritised on a case-by-case basis,
taking into account the specificities of the target country and the trading
potential.

§ The financial
instruments under COSME will specifically support SMEs to internationalise, by
promoting their cross border-development.

3. 
Facilitate
the uptake of resource efficiency technology in partner countries through
cooperation with European SMEs:

§ 
A Low Carbon Business Action will provide technical
assistance for the establishment of Cooperation Partnerships between EU businesses and clusters
and businesses and other counterparts in middle income countries, and for the
elaboration of joint bankable proposals[26] that reflect the
interests of both parties while ensuring policy coherence for development.

■
  Building
of
new entrepreneurial activities based on green technologies in South
 Mediterranean countries through cooperation with European SMEs.

V.
Governance

The concept and outline of the Green Action Plan for SMEs
as presented in public consultations on the future of SME policy and, notably,
the Public Consultation on the Green Action Plan that took place during the
fourth quarter of 2013, have received wide support from those Member State administrations and SME stakeholders that
responded.[27] Also the Network of SME Envoys[28] has
responded positively to the Plan appreciating its clear focus on the business
case emanating from environmental challenges. It is therefore important to
implement it thoroughly. This requires the full political commitment of both
the Commission and the Member States.

Why is this important for SMEs?

Only an efficient and effective implementation of the
objectives and subsequent actions of this Action Plan will ensure an impact
across Europe for the benefit of SMEs.

The Commission has set several objectives to be
achieved through the following actions:

1. 
Ensure
monitoring and updating of the actions set up by the Commission to support SMEs
in this domain:

§ The actions linked to
this Green Action Plan for SMEs will be regularly monitored, including the
dedicated financial resources, in dialogue with SME stakeholders, and the
effectiveness of the programmes will also be evaluated. Updated information on
the actions will be provided through the Commission website.

§ The
SME Performance Review[29] monitors and assesses
countries' progress in implementing the Small Business Act on an annual basis,
including their performance in relation to its principle 9 'enabling SMEs to
turn environmental challenges into business opportunities', thereby complementing
the Green Action Plan monitoring.

2. Coordination, cooperation and best practices
exchange at European, national and regional level will be supported:

§ 
The Small Business Act governance mechanism, which
comprises the SME Performance Review and the Network of SME Envoys, will be
used to provide a platform for best practice exchange among Member States on
support for SMEs to help them turn environmental challenges into business
opportunities. In particular, the Network of SME Envoys will be used to
discuss implementation of such practices, results and obstacles.

§ 
Coordination will be established with the EcoAP High Level
Working Group in order to ensure the continuous flow of information,
consistency and better exploitation of synergies between the various
initiatives. Whenever relevant, coordination will also be sought with European
level groups functioning in other policy areas, such as environment,
employment, education, development cooperation, etc.

[1] Resource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources in a
sustainable manner while minimising impacts on the environment while allowing
economic growth (through relative decoupling of material use).

[2]  "Guide to
resource efficiency in manufacturing: Experiences from improving resource
efficiency in manufacturing companies". Europe INNOVA (2012)

[3]  Meyer, B. et al (2011) "Macroeconomic modelling of
sustainable development and the links between the economy and the
environment". Study for the European Commission (DG Environment), available at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/studies_modelling/pdf/report_macroeconomic.pdf

[4] Eurostat waste statistics (2011)

[5] See the SME definition at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/sme-
definition/index_en.htm

[6] For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/index_en.htm

[7] The "green economy" is a model that "secures growth
and development, safeguards human health and well-being, provides decent jobs,
reduces inequalities and invests in, and preserves biodiversity, including the
ecosystem services it provides (natural capital), for its intrinsic value and
for its essential contribution to human well-being and economic
prosperity". (Definition from Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union
Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our
planet’).

[8] The Green Action Plan for SMEs focuses on
resource efficiency in general, without any particular focus on energy
efficiency or renewable energy generation, which have already been the subjects
of specific Commission Communications and legislative proposals.

[9] http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/index_en.htm

[10] For example the EU will support actions relevant to the GAP through
Cohesion Policy. Member States have agreed to allocate more than EUR 100
billion from the European Regional and Development Fund to invest in SMEs, the
low carbon economy and research and innovation.

[11] Actions foreseen in the Communication have no budgetary impact on
EU budget over and beyond the appropriations already foreseen in the official
financial programming of the Commission.

[12] The accompanying Staff Working Document provides a list of the
actions with indication, where appropriate, of the timescale for their
implementation during the 2014-2020 period.

[13] Link to the report on the results of the
public consultation: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/public-consultation-green-action-plan/index_en.htm

[14] This information will include references to the dedicated financial
resources for, and the effectiveness of, the actions as foreseen under the
governance of the Green Action Plan.

[15] "Guide to
resource efficiency in manufacturing: Experiences from improving resource
efficiency in manufacturing companies". Europe INNOVA (2012).

[16] All figures in this
paragraph come from Flash Eurobarometer 2013 on 'SMEs, resource
efficiency and green markets':

ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_381_eapdf.

[17]  Calogirou C., S. Y. Sørensen, P. B. Larsen, S. Alexopoulou et al. (2010) SMEs and the
environment in the European Union, PLANET SA and Danish Technological
Institute, Published by European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry.  http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=4711

[18] For more
information: http://een.ec.europa.eu/

[19] Eurostat Waste Statistics (2011)

[20] A circular economy keeps the value added in products for as long as
possible and eliminates waste. Resources embedded in products are kept in
productive use when the product reaches the end of its life, providing further
value.

[21] Symbiotic economy is based on the practice that
the by-products of one company or sector (including energy, water, logistics
and materials) are used by another.

[22] Flash Eurobarometer 2013 on 'SMEs, resource efficiency and green
markets': ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_381_eapdf.

[23] IDEA Consult,
ECORYS, 2009. Study on the competitiveness of the EU eco-industry;
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, 2009, "Greentech - Made in Germany 2.0"

[24] Flash Eurobarometer 2013 on 'SMEs, resource efficiency and green
markets': ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_381_eapdf.

[25] The Commission's previous efforts include
the Communication "The integration of environmental aspects into
standardisation" (COM (2004) 130 final) and the Communication 'A strategic
vision for European standards: Moving forward to enhance and accelerate the
sustainable growth of the European economy by 2020' (COM (2011) 311 final)

[26]A bankable proposal
is a project or proposal which is sufficiently underpinned both financially and
conceptually to be potentially successful when applying for financing from
institutional lenders.

[27] Report on the results of the public consultation:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/public-consultation-green-action-plan/index_en.htm

[28] For more
information: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-act/sme-envoy/index_en.htm

[29] For more information: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/performance-review/index_en.htm