site.btaBulgaria Is EU's Worst Performing Member in Implementing Circular Economy, NGO Says

Bulgaria is performing worst among the 27 EU member states in implementing the circular economy and ranks among the top 10 member states with the biggest carbon footprint from food, Asya Gekova of the Sofia-based Net Zero Foundation International Climate Network said on Thursday. She was speaking at a conference in Sofia titled "Development of the Circular Economy in Bulgaria and Current Business Practices". The conference was organized by the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Advantage Austria, with media support from the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

Gekova said that her organization focuses on the European green deal, trying to maintain dialogue about it at the European level.

She spoke in favour of the introduction of digital passports and energy labelling of products to let customers know how much energy was saved in making a given product. According to her, the benefits of the circular economy are that it boosts the potential for GDP growth, allows manufacturers to save up to 70% on input materials, provides new employment opportunities and well-paid jobs, and makes a lasting contribution to a sustainable economy.

Waste containers can be equipped with sensors to detect various types of waste and save time for recycling and making second-hand products, Gekova went on to say.

Blockchains are a new trend in the circular economy. They can be used to trace the life cycle of products. The repair of electric appliances, apparel and footwear reduces the carbon footprint and creates jobs, Gekova noted.

The Net Zero Foundation aims to disseminate objective information and analyses on the European green deal and global trends in controlling climate change and carrying out the green transition, to identify and promote Bulgarian expertise in this field and help implement all aspects of the green deal.