CSR Kosovo Launches the New Project "Fostering Sustainability through Circular Economy and CSR"

Kosovo CSR Network has started implementing the “Fostering Sustainability Through Circular Economy and Corporate Social Responsibility” project financed by the EU and German Government through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

From 2019, Kosovo CSR Network members have agreed to join forces and together focus on environmental protection, by raising awareness on ways to be greener, taking actions that reduce damage effects of business practices, and promoting and encouraging greater environmental responsibility.

The project aims to:

raise public awareness on Circular Economy (CE) within Kosovo.
create a pool of local ‘change agents’.
trigger and advance sustainable thinking.
identify possible cooperation and investment.

In a 2019 survey, more than 70% of 462 respondents had never discussed or remember deliberating on circular economy in school/university, and 36% of respondents had never heard any of the concepts that contribute to the creation of a circular economy, and only 1.3% had heard of all.

The existing lack of familiarity with the concept of circular economy within industries, first requires a conversation to provide an overview of circular economy and the long-term waste management initiatives, followed by activities aiming to connect supporters, businesses and enterprises, organizations and other stakeholders to share information on current opportunities, and begin mapping of such initiatives and opportunities.

To address and mitigate the current restraints and mainstream “circular economy” initiatives within industries, this project aims at improving the overall visibility, understanding and acceptance of CE in Kosovo’s economic transition.

The overall objective is to promote the potential for a transition to a greener and circular economy as a judicious choice that serves economic, environmental, and societal goals, through a structured and continuous dialogue of private sector entities and key stakeholders.

Ten local change agents will be selected to be trained and certified in circular economy. Upon certification, they will provide trainings to the private sector, policy officials, local CSOs and academia on the topic.

In the framework of the Kosovo Sustainable Development Week, Kosovo CSR Network launched the discussion on Green Public Procurement, together with representatives from public authorities, GIZ, private sector and civil society.

The panel emphasized the need for public authorities to procure goods, services and works with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle. In addition to legal changes, support is needed to increase the capacities and awareness of contracting authorities. This will also incentivize the private sector to embrace sustainable business practices.

In parallel, Kosovo CSR Network is undertaking numerous outreach activities such as: promotional videos, awareness material and knowledge tools for transitioning from linear production and consumption cycles to resource-efficient and sustainable circular economy approaches, presentation of CE leaders/innovators through video production and social media coverage: 5-10 minute clips with interviews, process description, best practices to show the positive impact of working and consuming differently and introduction of an open-source access content.

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