Tamil Nadu has made significant strides in sustainable plastic waste management and circular economy transformation. To further support this effort, EU-India Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Initiative (EU-I RECEI) project was officially launched recently in Chennai, during a workshop. The project will focus on plastics and textiles in Tamil Nadu, promoting innovative circular economy business models that encourages uptake of recycled content, reuse solutions and plastic alternatives. It will also foster collaboration between European and Indian SMEs to develop sustainable solutions for textiles and plastics.
The project, financed jointly by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV), will be implemented by GIZ India in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India and key Tamil Nadu government authorities, such as the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forest (DoEFCC), Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), and Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC).
The EU-I RECEI project aims to drive sustainable modernization in India through inclusive policies and practices. Leveraging EU expertise, standards, and tools, the project fosters sustainable value chains. It also draws insights from the “Circular Economy Solutions” project, which tackles marine litter, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests. The project aims to not only mitigate environmental and health impacts but also create new economic and job opportunities— particularly for entrepreneurs and MSMEs—through circular economy solutions.
This project was launched recently at the “Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in Plastics – Multistakeholder Workshop” in Chennai by Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India EU. Dignitaries present during the launch were Mr. Frank DENNER, Deputy Consul General Chennai, Federal Republic of Germany in India; Mr Etienne ROLLAND-PIEGUE from Consulate General of France in Pondicherry & Chennai; Mr. Simon Bernard, Co-founder, Plastic Odyssey; Mr. Mahesh K. Patil, Chairman, Goa State Pollution Control Board; Er. Sreekala S, Chairperson, Kerala State Pollution Control Board; Mr. SØREN NØRRELUND KANNIK-MARQUARDSEN, Minister Counsellor, Director of the Trade Council South Asia and Head of Trade, Economic & Commercial Affairs, Danish Embassy, New Delhi; Mr. Gerald Guskowski, Programme Director & Cluster Coordinator, GIZ India.
Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in Plastics – Multistakeholder Workshop
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from government agencies, industry leaders, international organizations, and civil society to discuss innovative solutions for tackling plastic pollution and promoting circular economy principles. Key topics included:
– Plastic waste management and marine litter prevention
– Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and successful implementation pathways
– Gender-Inclusive Waste Management Practices for a circular economy
– Global best practices: sharing experiences from the Plastic Odyssey, EU initiatives, and Tamil Nadu’s waste management successes.
During the official inauguration of the project, Dr. Rachna Arora, Director Climate Change and Circular Economy, GIZ India, presented the objectives and action plan for EU-I RECEI implementation in Tamil Nadu. Circular economy and resource efficiency have become central to international cooperation. This is evident in the Sustainable Development Goals, the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue, and the G20 Delhi Declaration, a key outcome of India’s G20 Presidency. During India’s G20 Presidency, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi underscored the inter-connectedness of climate change, biodiversity, and circular economy, emphasizing the need for a circular world. He also highlighted India’s initiatives, such as Mission LiFE, promoting sustainable consumption, and the Swachh Bharat Mission, enhancing urban governance.
Quotes:
H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India
H.E. Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India, highlighted the growing global momentum and EU-India partnership in circular economy and resource efficiency. He emphasized that circular economy, recycling & resource efficiency are now cornerstones of a “smart economy,” driving diversification, reducing dependencies, supporting climate action and preserving biodiversity while reducing the high cost caused by pollution.
He praised India’s leadership in driving circular economy transitions, particularly through its G20 Presidency initiatives and bilateral partnership with the EU.
He stressed the multiple levels of concrete engagement and cooperation between the EU and India. During the recent 2nd Trade and Technology Council meeting held in Delhi, EU India agreed on joint research cooperation through coordinated calls on marine plastic litter. The focus will be on developing technologies for detection, measurement and analysis of aquatic litter and for mitigation of the cumulative impact of pollution on the marine environment.
Ambassador Delphin noted that the EU-I RECEI project will support policy implementation, industry collaboration, and MSME engagement in sectors like plastics, textiles, and e-waste.
He commended Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Goa’s governments for their leadership in circular economy initiatives.
He also highlighted the launch of “Circular Economy on Wheels” as a transformative step in spreading awareness and fostering sustainable business models.
The Ambassador reaffirmed the EU-India partnership’s role in driving global sustainability and urged stakeholders to leverage innovation, policy, and industry collaboration to accelerate the circular economy transition.
During his visit to Chennai, Ambassador Delphin will also visit the Plastic Odyssey, a European global expedition identifying and disseminating low-cost plastic recycling solutions, which has made its sole India stopover in Chennai.
Dr. Jayanti Murali, Chairperson, TNPCB in her inaugural address shared the innovative practices led by the department of environment and TNPCB to promote SUP alternatives through the Meendum Manjappai (Yellow Bag) campaign which also emphasizes sustainable waste management practices through active public participation and awareness efforts. In addition, she also highlighted the state’s efforts in managing fishing nets through the TN fishnet initiative. She also appreciated the joint efforts by TNPCB and GIZ India to support in making the TN secretariat SUP free premises.
Ms. Supriya Sahu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, DoEFCC, Government of Tamil Nadu on this occasion, Ms. Supriya Sahu, highlighted the efforts taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu towards Circular Economy. She highlighted “Meendum Manjappai Campaign” of the Government of Tamil Nadu which aims to bring back traditional eco-friendly practice of using cloth bags. She highlighted that Tamil Nadu has innovated a vending machine to dispose the cloth bags in high foot fall areas. Currently 202 machines have been installed across various markets, temples, beaches and shopping spaces. Government of Tamil Nadu has also operationalised 2 mobile brigades to check usage of banned plastic items and promote sustainable practices. In a recent initiative Government of Tamil Nadu has launched “100 eco-pods to spread awareness about sustainability. These eco-pods are operated by women from self-help groups who have been trained to take the message of sustainability to grassroots as part of TNs climate literacy programme. TNs Pilot fishnet initiative has proved successful in getting discarded fishing nets back to recycling o payment basis to fisher folk. Under TN SHORE initiative Tamil Nadu has launched several initiatives towards Blue beaches setting up of pollution control measures in water bodies and plastic check posts etc. All these measures are aimed to stop plastic pollution and promote sustainability.
Mr. Frank Denner, Deputy Consul General, Federal Republic of Germany in India: During the inaugural session, Mr. Frank Denner, Deputy Consul General, Germany, highlighted the strong Indo-German cooperation on environmental protection, particularly within the G7, G20, and bilateral agreements. He emphasized that marine litter and circular economy are key pillars of the Indo-German Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) and noted the ongoing Circular Economy Solutions project, supported by BMUV and implemented by GIZ India, which works to prevent marine litter in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Denner welcomed the EU’s co-financing of the CES project under the EU-I RECEI initiative, which extends circular economy solutions beyond plastic packaging to textiles and e-waste.
Mr Etienne Rolland Piegue, Consulate General of France, in Pondicherry and Chennai in his special address emphasized the role of private sector led innovative solutions in creating tangible solutions for addressing community engagement, technology driven approaches and awareness addressing marine litter, wherein Plastic Odyssey brings a global expedition for enhancing knowledge exchange and awareness creation especially for youth and start-ups in the field.
Mr. Gerald Guskowski, Programme Director & Cluster Coordinator, GIZ India, highlighted that event also launched the “Circular Economy on Wheels” program (supported under the EUI-RECEI), a mobile awareness and outreach model that is intended to foster circular economy practices, waste segregation, and environmentally friendly consumer behaviour in Tamil Nadu. This initiative supports women empowerment, sustainable consumption and enhancing local innovative solutions.
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