The Development Bank of Wales support programme covers the following: 

• Micro-loans from £ 1 000 to £ 50 000) with 1-10 year repayment terms
• Debt/equity investment from £ 50 000 to £ 3 million in a single round
• Backing for technology ventures
• Property development loan
• Project finance

Interest rates range from 4 % to 12 % fixed for the life of the loan, with the current average at 7.7 %.

The Circular Economy Voucher aims to help Portuguese companies diagnose and define circular economy action plans and growth models aligned with relevant national and international strategies.

Slovenian Export and Development Bank (SID Bank) operates programmes for financing working capital and investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets in the areas of SMEs, internationalisation, research and development, environmental protection and regional development.

The programmes are long-term in nature, with financing up to 15 years, where up to 85% of eligible costs may be covered. Detailed terms and conditions and financing are arranged with participating financial intermediaries.

Fit4Circularity is a support scheme created in 2015 by LuxInnovation and targeting SMEs, following the Fit4Digital and Fit4Innovation initiatives.

Fit4Circularity is dedicated to helping SMEs that are willing to make a more substantial commitment to sustainable development practices and to implement a circular economy approach. The objectives are to limit the use of raw materials, maximise the use of renewable sources, develop innovative products and services for sustainable growth, reduce energy consumption and increase recyclability.

Climate Leap is a programme for local and regional investments to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It was introduced in 2015.

Investments in all sectors, except those included in the EU ETS, and all types of organizations are eligible to apply for grants.

Applicants compete based on the estimated greenhouse gas reduction of each investment. For 2018 the budget is SEK 1500 million and the indicative budget for 2019 and 2020 is SEK 2000 million and SEK 3000 million respectively.

The Centre for Resource Efficiency in Sweden (CERISE) involves companies, authorities and research institutes. The Centre’s objective is to contribute to industries’ efforts to increase resource efficiency (reduction in the use of resources and increased material efficiency); improved energy efficiency; greater efficiency in the use of ecosystem services; increased competitiveness; and reduced environmental impact. Participants represent various industries such as energy, pulp and paper, manufacturing, chemicals, waste and recycling, and more.

In collaboration with the Energy and Water Agency, Malta Enterprise is assisting undertakings to (e.g. grants for purchasing new technology) invest in cogeneration equipment (ie energy efficient solutions that simultaneously generate thermal energy and electrical and/or mechanical energy). The assistance shall be provided in the form of a tax credit.

he ECO certification is the national scheme for ensuring the environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural sustainability of hotels and farmhouses on the Maltese Islands and has been recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council as fully reflecting the GSTC criteria. 

The Malta Chamber has within its structures a purposely focused group known as the Energy and Environment Committee whose aim is that of assisting business community with issues related to these two themes.

The Chamber’s committee organises periodical seminars on several themes and represents the organisation in lobbying and consultation efforts at local and EU level on environmental related matters.

For more information on any of the subjects mentioned above SMEs can contact the Chamber’s Policy Unit on (356) 21 233873.

The Circularity Check is a free, online self-evaluation tool for companies, in particular SMEs, that determines a circularity score for a specific product and/or service. In the form of a questionnaire, the tool comprises about 60 questions to check whether the product/service is circular and sustainable, and if so, to what extent. A score is assigned to each question; the higher the score the better.