Technology Centre Prague, coordinator of the international Enterprise Europe Network in the Czech Republic (EEN), presented its activities at the fourth annual conference Circular Economy in Practice. The conference, which was once again organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Moravian-Silesian Region, took place in the industrial area of ​​Dolní Oblast Vítkovice on June 20-21, 2024.

Jiří Vavřínek from TC Prague spoke in the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) section ) with a contribution on how the EEN network supports sustainable business. He accompanied the presentation with two examples of successful cooperation with companies, specifically with the companies Stabilplastik and Trafin Oil, a client shared with the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Moravian-Silesian Region. In the second part of the presentation, he presented the EENergy project and its results so far. This is a project to support the energy efficiency of small and medium-sized companies, in which a total of 39 Czech companies signed up with the support of advisers from EEN. Financial support should be granted to approximately 20 of them, who will be able to purchase modern energy-saving lighting, photovoltaics or ensure the replacement of energy-inefficient machines and equipment.

The conference was a meeting of representatives of the state administration, the professional public and companies that are at various stages of development and implement circular projects and sustainability, including ESG. The meeting showed a big shift in the pan-European concept of sustainability or the circular economy, while revealing some of the limits of this dynamically developing field. Companies are currently exposed to a large number of legislative requirements that will gradually affect or already affect mainly small and medium-sized companies. Businesses in supply chains provide data for the environmental reporting of large firms and corporations. As stated, ESG principles are already in place in corporations (Schneider Electric, ZENTIVA, etc.), they serve to objectively measure and report sustainability results, especially their carbon footprint. Companies must prepare specifically for the requirements of the regulation on ecodesign of sustainable products (ESPR), digital product passports, packaging and packaging waste, non-financial reporting (CSRD), etc.

Technology Centre Prague and the EEN network also presented themselves at a stand on the 3rd floor of the GONG Multifunctional Hall, where the accompanying ExpoCirk event allowed 24 selected companies to present their circular projects or services. In conclusion, the organizers promised to continue this tradition also in 2025, and TC Praha and EEN believe that they will be there again.

For more information contact J. Vavrinek, vavrinek@tc.cz.