KICK OFF MEETING CB CARBONFREE INTERREG V-A GREECE BULGARIA 2014-2020
Greek Exporters Association – SEVE, as the Lead Beneficiary of the project with the acronym CARBONFREE, organized on Friday 22nd of October 2021, at the Mediterranean Hotel Palace the Kick – off meeting of the European Cooperation Program “INTERREG V-A Greece-Bulgaria” 2014-2020; the project is co-financed by the Regional Development Fund which aims to reduce carbon footprint in product’s production line in the cross-border area and to create a relevant certificate / protocol.
The project that will last 2 years – until spring 2023, aims to develop new and improved production methods, standardization, marketing, etc. environment friendly, with the aim to reduce the carbon footprint at all production’s stages, from the producer to the market.
In this context, the implementation of the CB CARBONFREE project will create the opportunities for each participating country both in Greece and Bulgaria, to develop their own criteria, methodology and research for the implementation of a Protocol (Carbon Free Protocol). This protocol will be using, at a pilot stage, education tools and training actions with the ultimate goal of implementing the Carbon Free Protocol in existing and new businesses.
Main benefits of implementing and certifying a carbon footprint protocol are the following:
• Reduction of businesses’ operating costs.
• Promotion of the social corporate responsibility.
• Entering new markets and meeting with a new consumers group.
• Increase of export activities.
In the highly competitive international markets, the certification that gives a competitive advantage is that certification of the environmental profile of a product production (carbon footprint). Thus the reduction of the carbon footprint of the exporting companies, will definitely give a positive sign to export dynamics of the companies.
Carbon footprint certification is considered particularly critical in the effort of companies to enter to new markets, as demanding foreign markets ask for companies that sell their products in these markets to have a carbon footprint certification.
It is easy to understand that these countries set entry market requirements for products, such as products in food sector, which is a key sector of Greek exports. In the corporate scheme of the CB CARBON FREE project the following beneficiaries also participate:
Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry
European Regional Framework for Co-operation
The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and by National resources of the participating countries in the cross – border cooperation program “INTERREG V-A GREECE – BULGARIA 2014-2020”.
