site.btaUPDATED Conference on Green Transformation, Circular Economy Opens in Sofia

A conference on green transformation, circular economy and sustainable development was held Thursday at INTERPRED - WTC in Sofia, organizers from the Enterprise magazine announced. The forum aimed to determine whether Bulgarian businesses are ready for the green transition and how the concept of circular economy and sustainable development is making its way into the Bulgarian economy.

According to the organizers the green transition is a key strategy for transforming the economy in response to climate change and a tool for improving resource efficiency adopted by the European Union. This transition is crucial for the Bulgarian economy, which is still highly energy and resource intensive and relies on less efficient business models and infrastructure.

At the conference, business and government representatives gathered to discuss good policies, standards and practices in green transformation and sustainability. The focus of the discussions was on business with sustainable products, waste as a resource, resource efficiency, and relevant legal frameworks, among others.

Vice President of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), Maria Mincheva, said that the industry does many things regardless of the politicians' agenda, however, it needs the legislature to create the right framework and be able to transform at the necessary speed that is set by Europe.

Mincheva spoke about BIA's Clean Industry Centre, which is actively working with businesses to help them implement both national and EU legislation.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Nikolay Sidzhimov emphasized the importance of discussing green transformations and new approaches, as people and businesses alike should think in this direction.

The new Operational Programme Environment will focus mainly on introducing models and mechanisms for separate collection. There will be no funding for new landfills.

Commenting on the idea of introducing a municipal waste fee based on the amount of waste, Sidzhimov said that his Ministry has launched a project of the National Association of the Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, which requires the development of models that are applicable in different types of municipalities, so that each municipality can choose the most suitable model and implement it.

The forum was organized by Enterprise magazine and the BIA.