Environmental technologies and eco-innovation

Environmental technologies have great potential to reduce negative impacts on the environment, while improving the competitiveness of businesses and of the European economy. It has also been identified as one of the ways to achieve the core Lisbon strategy objectives. Therefore Europe is committed to improving the development and wider use of these environmental technologies. However, businesses and in particular small businesses must be put in the conditions to be able to adopt these technologies.

Position Papers

• October 2007: Overview of the problems faced by micro and small businesses when applying the concept of eco-efficiency, including energy efficiency (updated)

Environmental technology verification (ETV)

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a plan to introduce an EU-wide system to verify the potential of new technologies for reducing environmental impacts - the so called Environmental Technology verification (ETV).

The Commission says that many new technologies lack proven information on their performance under real or field conditions and this makes sometimes difficult for their manufacturers to convince customers, to obtain the necessary financing and to obtain the necessary authorizations to place the technologies on the market. The consultation seeks therefore stakeholder views on options being considered in preparation for a Commission initiative expected next year.

The Commission explains that is to provide a simple and user-friendly system and international recognition under the motto “verified once, accepted everywhere” The system would apply to technologies ready to be put on the market, not at a pilot stage. Critical for the success of the system would be the capacity to support SMEs and innovative business through a simple, not expensive and user-friendly service.

UEAPME responded to the On-line consultation in January 2008. Click here to read its response.

Projects & Links

Partnership for a Clean, Clever, Competitive Europe

During the Environment Council of 20 December 2004, the Dutch Presidency officially launched a dialogue aimed at setting up in a near future a partnership between businesses, the European Commission and the EU Member States for a Clean, Clever, Competitive Europe. The objective of this dialogue is to identify opportunities linked to eco-efficient innovations and to propose a series of concrete actions to improve the market perspective of eco-efficient innovations. This initiative stems from the informal Environment Council of July 2004 whereby ministers underlined the important role of eco-efficient innovations in re-launching the Lisbon strategy.

Click here to access the project website.