Alpla inaugurates a PET recycling unit in Târgu Mureș, an investment of €7.5 million. The plastic recycled at the factory in Târgu Mureș will be used for the production of new PET bottles. Alpla has 190 production units in 46 countries.
The World Bank supports Bulgaria's efforts to secure clean energy resources. The bank will provide expert technical opinions based on the best global ideas and practices for managing Bulgaria's geothermal energy resources. The use of geothermal energy will provide new jobs and guarantee a smooth transition to green energy.
The Electrolux Group reached its set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions three years earlier. The group thus reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from direct and indirect operations by 82% and the emissions resulting from the direct use of household appliances by 25%.
Nestlé has officially inaugurated the Institute of Agricultural Sciences to help advance sustainable food systems by delivering science-based solutions in agriculture. Its goal is to identify the most promising solutions to promote the production of nutritious raw materials while minimizing their environmental impact.
The company Solar MD begins production of energy storage batteries in Ruse, Bulgaria. The Association for Production, Storage, and Trade of Electricity (APSTE) expects that within three years Bulgaria will have over 6,000 MW of installed capacity from wind and solar plants.
E-Infra started the project of a green hydrogen plant of 5 MW, in Turda, financed by PNRR. The facility would produce, annually, about 518 tons of green hydrogen, and the commissioning date is June 30, 2025. The total value is RON50.2 million (€10.04 million).
The value of the green technology market was $1.5 trillion in 2020 and is expected to reach over $9.5 trillion by 2030, according to a report by UNCTAD - the United Nations Trade and Development Agency. UNCTAD's Technology and Innovation Report 2023 warns that economic inequalities risk widening as developed countries reap the most benefits from green technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and electric vehicles.
23% of Romania's surface is occupied by protected natural areas that are part of the Natura 2000 network, says the Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests, Barna Tanczos. He considered that, from the point of view of natural capital, Romania is one of the members states with a rich biological diversity in terms of species and natural habitats and ecosystems.
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. On this occasion, Google presents the popular searches of Romanians, related to climate change and environmental protection. Thus, climate changes and their effects on the environment, solar energy, recycling, or electric bicycles were among Romanians' searches on Google.
Romania is among the most vulnerable countries in the region to the risks related to the transition to a green economy, in the context where investments in decarbonization are expected to put additional pressure on public finances. According to the global rating agency Fitch Ratings, the cost impact of the decarbonization transition on sovereign ratings in the region appears to be manageable.
Four out of ten Romanians have not heard of any brand involved in sustainable actions, shows a study carried out by IZI for the Romanian Sustainability Embassy (ASR). According to him, responsible communication from truly sustainable companies is essential to combat the greenwashing phenomenon.
Primark launches its first circular collection. The new 35-piece collection is designed and made to be worn longer, helping to reduce waste in fashion, and is part of Primark's commitment to giving clothes a longer life. Each piece in the collection has been made from more sustainably sourced materials.
80% of Romanians are willing to do more for sustainability, and the main barriers are the lack of easy access to information and personal resources, according to a study carried out by the Arctic Foundation in collaboration with Ipsos. 38% say they don't know what to do to be more sustainable, and 34% believe they don't have time to act in this direction.
More than 130,000 saplings will be planted this spring in the Dobroneagu area, announced the Conservation Carpathia Foundation. The ecological restoration of Mount Doboneagu began in 2022, with 350,000 saplings planted here. For the first time, in addition to the traditional planting of saplings, in Dobroneagu, direct sowing with jir seeds will be tested, and drones will be used in hard-to-reach areas.
The Minister of European Investments and Projects, Marcel Boloș, together with the Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digitization, Sebastian Burduja, inaugurated the project "From Nano to Macro in Hydrogen Energy - Expansion of the National Center for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells - HyRo 2.0". The project will focus on validating and demonstrating the performance of hydrogen energy technologies, reducing costs, and identifying the most appropriate applications for these technologies.
By 2028, all payment cards issued in the Mastercard network will have Card Eco certification. Thus, Mastercard will eliminate the use of non-recycled PVC plastic from the production associated with the payment cards in its network.
A hydrogen factory will be built in Galati, on the site of the Siderurgic Complex, as a result of a project worth €32 million that would be financed directly by the European Commission. Hydrogen is seen as an alternative to fossil fuels.
The Minister of Finance, Adrian Câciu, signed a loan agreement with the World Bank to finance the project to prevent and reduce pollution in rural areas in Romania. The amount of the loan is €60 million, with repayment in a single instalment, the repayment date being April 15, 2035. The Ministry of the Environment specifies that it supports any initiative that contributes to reducing pollution and protecting the environment.
Fepra will invest €15 million by 2030 to develop the circular economy in Romania, based on a complex sustainable development strategy developed in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The company's objectives are to further expand the range of services and products, broaden its areas of expertise and develop the new waste collection, recycling, as well as reuse capabilities.
Changing the heating system and replacing doors and windows can reduce the carbon emissions of a single-family home by more than 80 percent, according to a CO2-Optimist study by the Swiss research institute EMPA for E.ON. It shows that poor insulation and outdated heating systems lead to above-average energy consumption and higher costs.
Schneider Electric is investing €40 million in a new smart factory in Hungary. The factory will be net zero. Geothermal energy and rooftop solar will power the site, and Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure energy management solutions will maximize its energy efficiency.
E.ON Energie Romania and Oncos Transilvania have completed a smart lighting project of over €500,000. The classic lighting system in 45 company halls in Cluj and Sălaj counties was replaced. Energy consumption will be reduced by over 70%, and the carbon footprint will decrease by over 230 tons/year.
L'Oreal invests in a biotechnology company to develop plant-based ingredients on a large scale. The investment will contribute to the creation of new sustainable ingredients derived from living organisms. L'Oréal will replace traditional ingredients with organic alternatives, such as those obtained from sugars of vegetable origin.
BAT announces results in reaching its targets related to the strategic management of the water used in its production process. In 2022, BAT recycled 22.6% of the water volume used globally. BAT goals by 2025 include Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) certification of all its operation sites, 30% of water recycled, and a 35% reduction in water withdrawn by 2025 vs the 2017 baseline.
The EU has emerged as a global leader in green finance, having issued over €65 billion in NextGenerationEU (NGEU) Green Bonds since 2020.
PPC has finalized the acquisition of Evryo Group's renewable energy portfolio in Romania.
Orlen has committed to driving the energy transition and a greener future.
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €578 million Romanian scheme to lower an electricity levy rate for energy-intensive companies
Investment firm Mezzanine Partner has introduced the €100 million Energy Adria Fund, Croatia's first energy fund classified as "dark green".
