VOC (volatile organic compounds) solvents are used in the manufacturing industry in a wide range of applications. The European-VOC Directive (1999/13 / EC of the Council of 11 March 1999) has brought about substantial changes in the use and application of organic solvents.
The Effizienz-Agentur of North Rhine-Westphalia (EFA NRW) provides advice on resource-efficient business practices in the areas of production, product design, maintenance, cost accounting, CO2 balancing and the value chain.
CSR Netherlands is the Centre of Excellence for Dutch companies striving towards corporate social responsibility. More than 2 000 companies are affiliated with this networking organisation. CSR Netherlands offers general support to the Dutch business community, partner organisations and embassies. It supports partners by facilitating networks and transition programmes, and by developing products and tools including circular economy concepts, among others.
The Green Deal Circular Buildings is a collaboration between government, companies and institutions to actively translate circular economy thinking into buildings. The programme focuses on minimal use and reuse of raw materials and products in the design, operation and efficient use of commercial buildings. A set of building 'circularity' indicators have been determined and recorded in a living document, called a building passport.
Circular Enterprise is the online community of the Netherlands in the area of the circular economy. This programme encourages people and organisations to innovate, produce and operate in a more resource-efficient manner. Practical activities and online self-assessment tools help the business community to adopt resource-efficient practices.
The programme is supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment and implemented by CSR Netherlands, Circle Economy, The Green Business, ClickNL Design, The Green Brain, Sustainable Finance Lab and RVO.nl.
Guidelines to help Irish retailers reduce their costs, better manage their waste and limit their environmental footprint. By making small changes to how resources are managed, the retail industrsy also enhances its green credentials.
The guide is aimed at all retailers, from large corporate chains to small independent stores, and is an invaluable resource in advising businesses how to reduce their energy, water and waste bills.
The Green Healthcare Programme provides on-site efficiency assessments, staff training sessions and self-help tools for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to reduce and recycle waste (including healthcare risk wastes). The programme also deals with water (i.e. water-flow surveys) and energy usage and awareness.
Green Business is a free and confidential resource efficiency service for all types of SMEs in Ireland funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It provides free on-site resource efficiency assessment carried out by technical experts to help reduce water, waste and energy bills. Based on the site visit, a report is issued, which identifies resource efficiency opportunities specific to a company; a mixture of no-cost and low-cost measures, as well as opportunities that may require some investment.
The core of this tool is an efficiency and cost-reduction questionnaire to help small businesses carry out a quick self-assessment of their current practices and awareness with regard to resource efficiency.
It takes less than 15 minutes for companies to complete and provides an overall score and tailored recommendations of where efficiencies and cost-savings on energy, water and materials can be made.
On the basis of a long-term arrangement with the European Investment Bank (EIB), SID Bank finances a range of projects undertaken by SMEs. Projects must fall into one of the following categories: