On December 9-11, 2019, a study visit of the Working Group on the New Financial Perspective 2021-2027, operating within the framework of the national network of environmental bodies and institutions managing EU funds, "Partnership: Environment for Development", was held in Kraków.
The theme of the visit was the circular economy (in Polish: gospodarka o obiegu zamkniętym, “goz”). Goz is a modern development strategy that enables economic growth while optimizing resource consumption. In 2015, the European Commission adopted an action plan to help accelerate Europe's transition to a circular economy, improve global competitiveness and promote sustainable economic growth and job creation.
The strategy on goz is particularly important from the point of view of people involved in programming the future financial perspective in order to better understand its assumptions and to learn about investment needs in this area. This will be reflected in the implementation of the future Cohesion Policy.
During the visit there were organized lectures and workshops of specialists in the field of goz.
Representatives of the Waste Management and Recycling Cluster introduced the participants to the idea of cluster organization and the role they play in the economy. Particular emphasis was placed on value chains and the importance of economic symbiosis. Practical examples of economic symbiosis in the cluster and the effects of exchange within the symbiosis have also been described.
The speaker from the AGH University of Science and Technology presented the assumptions of goz, discussed EU and national legislation regarding the concept aimed at rational use of resources and reduction of the negative environmental impact of manufactured products. During this lecture, good practices of using the circular economy used in other countries as well as the principles of financing them were presented.
Participants also took part in an interesting lecture and workshop prepared by a representative of the Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development, during which they could exchange experiences and work out the most desirable activities in the field of goz on the example of cities.
The visit also had a practical dimension - at the Unimetal Recycling sp.z o.o. in Trzebinia, members of the working group became acquainted with solutions in the field of environmental policy, with particular emphasis on the circular economy operated in the plant, as well as with investment needs in this respect from the recycler's point of view.
In the Tymbark plant within the MASPEX Group with headquarters in Wadowice, a wide range of pro-ecological investments has been presented that minimize the negative impact on the natural environment in the spirit of the circular economy. Participants had the opportunity to visit the production halls of the Tymbark Plant - one of the largest producers of juices, nectars and drinks in Poland and abroad, where they learned about the pro-environmental solutions used by the Plant (including saving of raw materials and energy, eco-design, etc.).
In both factories, the role of the circular economy, benefits, opportunities and challenges in this area was widely discussed. In particular, the focus was on identifying investment needs, the knowledge of which will be helpful in selecting a market in line with the needs of the market in the course of work on programming EU funds.
The visit was financed under the project "Continued support for the functioning of the network of environmental bodies and institutions managing EU funds "Partnership: Environment for Development" in 2018-2019" co-financed from the Cohesion Fund under the Operational Program Technical Assistance 2014-2020.