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Description
This pre-defined project has been launched to support the Ministry of the Environment to help develop the best possible circular economy development strategy and promotion of green public procurement. Additionally to boost public awareness via different activities and campaigns.
Project objective is to strengthen circular economy framework and increase awareness on climate change related actions, with a purpose to contribute substantially to the transition to a low-carbon circular economy in Estonia in a smooth, inclusive and informed manner.
The overall outcome and result of the pre-definet project is: Enhanced capacity on Circular Economy. In more detail the following outputs are set up to achieve the overall outcome:
- Strategy on Circular Economy completed (as part of the Estonian Environment Action Plan);
- 100 professionals trained on Circular Economy;
- 5 categories for Green Public Procurement developed;
- 10 000 people reached by awareness raising campaigns
- 30 schools participating in Green Schools Competition.
In a broader sense, the target group is Estonian public while only together we could achieve the set out goals for 2050. The specified target groups are:
- policy makers and officials;
- environmentally conscious people
- entrepreneurs and professional associations
- school students and teachers
Summary of project results
The project aimed to increase the capacity of circular economy in Estonia. The framework (together with an action plan) of Estonian circular economy had to be developed to increase this capacity. Also a big concern was to raise awareness among Estonians, how circular economy can be integrated into being a natural part of the everyday life. Part of that awareness raising should be done through local municipalities and general education.
The use of environmentally friendly public procurement has become clearer for both procurers and providers, guidelines have been created, and the Public Procurement Register has been further developed to enable easier use of environmental-friendly criteria. All Estonian local governments received a personal circular economy roadmap and recommendations for further circular economy activities. A circular economy fair was organized in the end of 2023. The project also made it possible to complete the circular economy social agreement - roadmap. The project concerned various parties, including general education schools and students, consumers, local governments, manufacturers, public sector employees. The project partner Sintef contributed to the project with its own analysis and research skills and the cooperation between the two countries was productive.
Within this project a circular economy expert group was formed. Estonian local governments received a personal circular economy roadmap with an action plan. A circular economy training plan was created for local municipalities officials and they were trained during this project. An electronic manual was created. Study trips in Estonia for the officials who completed the trainings were conducted.
Green public procurement documents for 5 different categories were created (furniture, cleaning products and services, office IT-equipment, copy- and drawing paper) - mandatory categories for suppliers were prepared for Procurers.
Two environmental educational games were created (and tools for general education school teachers to deal with circular economy topics at school) and a competition for schools was created (36 schools from all over Estonia participated).
A study trip for the employees of the sub-organisations of Ministry of Climate was implemented in 2022 to Trondheim (12 participants).
Also two analysis were prepared: "Waste recycling efficiency analysis" and " Analysis of the establishment of mandatory areas of green public procurement and preparation of a guideline".
Publication activities for general public: conference, fair, media-campaign, electronical materials, web-page and visual identity.
Summary of bilateral results
Sintef provided their expertise and together with Sintef experts the circular economy strategy impact analysis was implemented for the Estonian plastic sector. The representatives from Sintef also participated in the Circular Economy conference in 2022 and conducted a workshop there. They also participated in the Circular Economy fair in 2023. Future collaboration is not yet decided.