EIT Manufacturing fosters circular economy and is part of the ETV initiative

Funding available to help start-ups and projects to verify their environmental performance

The Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) is a service provided by the European Commission with the aim to help technology providers who propose innovative, green technologies verify their solutions and provide a quality stamp. The ETV process takes the technology through a third-party validation, which assesses the performance of the technology based on independent and credible information using international standards. After successful conclusion of the process, an ETV Statement of Verification is published on the ETV website and can be pointed to in business-to-business relations. This enables technology owners to document the reliability of their claims and differentiate them from competitors. It also helps technology purchasers identify innovations that suit their needs.

EIT Manufacturing, together with EIT RawMaterials, EIT Climate KIC, EIT Food and EIT Urban Mobility launches a call to support companies in obtaining the ETV. The call is open until 31.05.2022 (23:59 CEST). The call guidelines and application form can be downloaded at the end of this article.

EIT Manufacturing also offers a Webinar on April 29th at 11.00h – 12.00h CET to present the ETV and the call in detail – if you are interested, please register here.

Background

Launched under the EU Commission Eco-Innovation Action Plan, the programme contributes to the aim of reaching a Circular Economy by promoting the uptake of green technologies. Transitioning to Circular Economy is one of the main objectives of European society at present. Moving to more circular economic models promises a much brighter future for the European economy. This will allow Europe to help match the current and future challenges of global pressure on resources and increasing insecurity of supply. Pumping resources back into productive use, cutting waste and reducing dependence on uncertain supplies are direct routes to improving resilience and competitiveness. By helping to decouple economic growth from resource use and its impacts, it offers the prospect of sustainable growth that will last.

The EIT Circular Economy Community will be one of the key stakeholders to realise this important objective for European society. To ensure greater impact, the different Knowledge and Innovation Centres of the EIT will collaborate across organisations: EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Climate KIC, EIT Food, and EIT Urban Mobility have strengthened their collaboration on internal and external activities related to Circular Economy including ETV support.

How does EIT Manufacturing support the ETV initiative?

EIT Manufacturing is committed to the creation of globally competitive and sustainable manufacturing. As part of the focus area Low Environmental Footprint Systems & Circular Economy for Green Manufacturing, the organisation fosters circular economy and is part of the ETV Secretariat. In line with these objectives, EIT Manufacturing takes part in the ETV programme by supporting interested start-ups or companies in its network to obtain this third-party verification.

ETV is implemented by accredited Verification Bodies in three technology areas:

• Water treatment and monitoring (e.g., monitoring water quality, treatment of drinking water and wastewater)
• Materials, waste and resources (e.g., separation and sorting of solid waste, recycling of materials, end-of-life products and chemicals, biomass-based products)
• Energy (e.g., renewable energy, energy generated from waste, energy efficiency)

The call is open to any partner and start-up of EIT RawMaterials, EIT Climate KIC, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing or EIT UrbanMobility who has developed a technology of any of the previously defined areas.

• You can apply if you are a start-up who has been supported in the past or are currently supported by any of the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Centres mentioned above.
• You can apply if you are a partner and if the development of the technology has been funded by EIT within the framework of a past or present project

A webinar defining main aspects of the call and ETV requirements will be organised on April 29, 2022 from 11.00 to 12.00 a.m. CET. The webinar will include a presentation of the EIT Circular Economy Community and call description, a detailed presentation of ETV main requirements and finally a presentation of the new ETV Secretariat followed by the opportunity to ask questions. If you are interested, please register here.