Circular economy is a business model that saves and renews natural resources and energy, prolongs the use of materials and products, and reduces waste. In the last 50 years, global resource consumption has quadrupled, with unsustainable increases in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the amount of waste generated. Currently, less than 9% of the world economy is based on circular principles, and these principles will be a necessity for the sustainable economy of the future.

In order to encourage and promote circular economy in the local context, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the UNDP, in partnership, have been implementing the project "Reducing the carbon footprint of local communities by applying the principles of the circular economy in the Republic of Serbia - Circular Communities", with the financial support of the Global Environmental Fund (GEF), since March 2022, until March 2027.

Project goal:

Encouraging the development and supporting the implementation of circular ideas, business models and products of public and private companies, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of local communities in Serbia.

Project focus:

1. Establish a supportive public policy and institutional framework aligned with EU circular economy policies, including training to improve the knowledge and skills of stakeholders, as well as encouraging broad community participation in the development and implementation of such policies;
2. Establish a Low Carbon Communities Innovation Platform – LCCIP, in order to identify and support new business ideas, products, investments in the area of ​​circular economy and efficient use of resources;
3. Pilot investments in the area of ​​circular economy;
4. Spread knowledge and raise public awareness on the importance of circular economy.