Discover the EEPA's fifth category national winners who are supporting the sustainable transition

'Supporting the sustainable transition' is the fifth category of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA) 2024, acknowledging initiatives which contribute to a greener future. 

Out of 442 entrants across 29 countries, the 11 following projects have been recognised by the national juries for their efforts in environmental endeavours such as supporting the circular economy, climate neutrality, clean energy, resource efficiency or biodiversity.

Austria: GUUTE 

Since 1998, over 400 member businesses from the Urfahr-Umgebung district have joined together to form Austria's largest district-wide business association, GUUTE. This initiative aims to promote sustainable economic practices by increasing regional value creation, creating more jobs, and networking local businesses. Through awareness-building and innovative offerings such as the GUUTE Card, vouchers, and awards, GUUTE has successfully halted the outflow of purchasing power, improved its ranking position, and increased regional employment by 39% over ten years. Unique to GUUTE is its network of exclusively owner-managed SMEs, involving a wide range of community stakeholders, including municipalities, institutions, schools, farmers, consumers, apprentices, employees, and people with disabilities, to foster a robust regional circular economy.

Belgium: Circular Design in Plastics (CDIP)


Circular Design in Plastics (CDIP) is an initiative under the Circular Wallonia strategy, supported by the Wallonia Recovery Plan, aimed at raising awareness and aiding companies in the plastics value chain in Wallonia to transition to a circular economy. By focusing on eco-design, CDIP helps companies evaluate and mitigate the environmental impacts of their products throughout their entire life cycle, from raw materials to end-of-life recycling. The initiative targets all companies within the value chain, including polymer producers, processors, recyclers, and users of plastic products in various sectors such as food, medical, and cosmetics. Special emphasis is placed on supporting SMEs, which often lack the resources to navigate market, legal, and environmental pressures.

Greece: Just Go Zero Tilos

"Just Go Zero Tilos" was recognised by the Greek jury for its groundbreaking approach to waste management on the island of Tilos. Over two years, it has implemented a technologically advanced system for circular waste management, involving all households, businesses, and organisations in source separation, door-to-door collection, composting, recycling, and reuse. These efforts have resulted in 100% waste diversion from landfilling and up to a 93% recycling rate. The initiative not only enhances environmental awareness and quality of life on Tilos but also aims to serve as a replicable model for sustainable waste management in other communities, demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to a circular economy.

Italy: WEEKO

Xera S.r.l. launched the WEEKO programme to achieve "zero waste" of electronic materials by 2025, aligning with the UN 2030 Agenda. By partnering with research institutions and companies in robotics and AI, the initiative aims for a circular economy by studying materials and processes to create new products from electronic waste. The project has seen success, with 85.99% of the reintroduced goods in 2023 being put back on the market after remanufacturing. The remaining 14.01% are exported products, goods donated to non-profit organisations, or elements used in the creation of new items, all disposed of following strict documented regulations. The aim is to foster a supportive, green business environment for businesses in the electronics sector.

Netherlands: Chemport Europe

Chemport Europe is a public-private initiative that aims to establish a sustainable chemical industry in the northern Netherlands, with the ambition of becoming the European leader in sustainable, green chemistry by 2030. Focusing on reducing CO2 emissions and utilising renewable feedstocks, the project attracts cutting-edge companies, enhances local business competitiveness, and fosters a collaborative and resilient business ecosystem. This has led to significant investments in the region, exemplified by projects like Avantium's €280 million FDCA plant and Circtec's €80 million bio-oil facility. This commitment to innovation and sustainability positions the northern Netherlands as a key player in the future of sustainable chemistry.

Portugal: From Waste to Roof Tiles: A Case of Circular Economy in the Water Sector

Established by Águas do Douro e Paiva, S.A. (AdDP), which collects, treats, and distributes drinking water to 22 municipalities serving 1.6 million people. The water treatment process generates clarification sludge, which can cause high environmental and financial costs when disposed of via landfill. A collaboration with the University of Porto came up with the idea to recycle the sludge as a raw material for roof tile manufacturing. This project, exemplifying efficiency and circular economy, has recovered around 25,000 tons of sludge, saving approximately 1 million euros, while supporting the local manufacturing ecosystem.

Romania: Sustainability Academy

The Sustainability Academy is Romania's pioneering ecosystem dedicated to business sustainability, providing SMEs with access to top national and international experts, capital, and an online platform for sustainable solutions. The project hosts a constantly growing community of thousands of entrepreneurs, and its 2024 expansion into Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia further widens its regional reach to take a collaborative approach to national and regional challenges. The Academy focuses on education, consulting, financing, and solutions to support sustainable business transformation, with entrepreneurs introduced to key concepts such as double materiality, European non-financial reporting regulations, and circular economy practices.

Slovakia: Reusing Platform

Reusing Platform aims to develop bio-energy by addressing the challenge of supplying feedstock from biomass for biogas plants, which currently face shortages in the region. Limited supply demands long-distance transportation into the region, adding to CO2 emissions, logistics costs, and quality loss due to improper storage. The platform positively impacts the environment by cutting greenhouse gas emissions from lagoons and animal manure storage facilities while reducing costs for businesses operating in the sector.

Slovenia: Green Region of the Smart Economy in the Ljubjanica River Basin

The Green Region of the Smart Economy in the Ljubljanica River Basin is a comprehensive project aimed at transforming the 1,890 km² basin into a leading green boutique tourist destination and a hub of sustainable economy. Building on existing assets such as agriculture, natural resources, tourism, and the forest-wood chain, the project seeks to unite local stakeholders—including farmers, entrepreneurs, craftsmen, and youth—under a shared vision of sustainable and resilient rural development. It promotes green tourism, nature-friendly management, and economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Fostering cross-border cooperation involves various stakeholders like local action groups, regional development agencies, and municipalities, contributing to a connected and sustainable region recognised at the national and international levels.

Sweden: Smart Industry North Middle Sweden

The Smart Industry North Middle Sweden project analysed 30 companies in the construction and property sectors of Dalarna and Värmland using an innovative eco-mapping system. This method assessed their capabilities and conditions in innovation, gender equality, digitalisation, and circular economy. The high level of trust and transparency among the companies facilitated new collaborations, leading to several groundbreaking sustainable projects, including Villazero, the world's first carbon dioxide-neutral single-family house. The analysis, conducted by an internationally recognised cluster development expert, resulted in detailed action plans for the companies, fostering advancements in the targeted fields.

Ukraine: Climate Innovation Vouchers

The Climate Innovation Vouchers (CIV) is the largest grant competition for innovators in climate-friendly technologies in Ukraine. Implemented by Greencubator on behalf of the EBRD/EU FINTECC programme, with EU financial support, CIV aims to foster a new generation of climate-friendly SMEs, aiding Ukraine's transition to a sustainable economy. The programme offers up to €50,000 in financing per SME, supporting economic recovery, job creation, and EU market integration. In the face of Russia's invasion, CIV and Greencubator are pivotal in rebuilding Ukraine's economy through decentralised power, logistics solutions, and CO2-capturing technologies, positioning Ukraine as a potential energy and innovation hub in Europe.

Good luck to all the contestants at the European stage of the competition. We are looking forward to the awards ceremony, where we will find out the overall winner of the fifth category! To stay tuned with #EEPA2024, follow Promoting Enterprise's social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X).