Interreg IPA-ADRION – MISSION4WATER PROJECT “Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER”

The MISSION4WATER project is focused on environmental protection, specifically reducing pollution through the development of innovative solutions by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Adriatic-Ionian region, aimed at reducing the dispersion of pollutants in natural waters. One of the most significant activities of the project is to create “Innovation Co-Labs” through synergy between companies, research institutions, and public bodies, with the goal of implementing pilot activities to develop new forms of initiatives for raising citizen awareness and developing new solutions for water filtration and purification in order to address environmental protection and sustainable development challenges.

Specific objectives of the project

• • Strengthening innovation capacities in the Adriatic – Ionian region to unlock the innovation potential of SMEs across Adriatic-Ionian region towards innovative solutions that could reduce pollutants dispersion in natural waters. Particular attention will be devoted to the issue of micro plastic and other pollutants originating from textiles and detergents from their production to home care trough household appliances but also from the industry;

• • Promote and encourage the development of transnationally designed innovations (technical and non-technical innovation, including services) through pilot and joint actions contributing to face societal and environmental challenges like energy efficiency or climate change;

• • Promote actions and measures supporting SMEs development and modernization including intellectual property, technical and financial issues; testing solutions closer to the market, as well as the introduction of quality and sustainable requirements.

Main expected results

• • MISSION4WATER STRATEGY that will define the integrated framework endorsed by all the project partners to:

• • foster innovation through collaboration;

• • address the challenges of dispersion of pollutants in freshwater through the “Co-innovation lab” model.

The Strategy will build on the effective needs collected at the regional level with diverse stakeholders and create the blueprint to foster open innovation among actors of the quadruple helix (SMEs and clusters or representatives of SMEs, possibly large companies; universities and other research institutes; governmental authorities; civil society) in the IPA ADRION region.

• • MISSION4WATER CO-INNOVATION MODEL that will be developed through the implementation of innovation use cases addressing one of the following areas related to the challenge of pollutants dispersion in water:

• • Awareness and behavioural changes;

• • Preventing Microplastics release;

• • Preventing other pollutants release;

• • Mitigating Microplastics release;

• • Mitigating other pollutants release.

The outcomes of the use cases will demonstrate the validity of the proposed model. In total, at least 18 use cases will be developed thanks to the collaboration of at least 40-50 organizations.

• • MISSION4WATER AHEAD that will define the business model for ensuring the sustainability of MISSION4WATER after the project completion and cooperation agreement between the partners. The result will consist in a lasting commitment for boosting the capacities and potentials of the innovation players.

PARTNERS

1. 1. Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano), Italy (IT) – Lead Partner

1. 1. ROLD – Italy (IT)

1. 1. TEXTILE TRADE ASSOCIATION –TEXTILE CLUSTER – North Macedonia (MK)

1. 1. Planet Care Ltd. Slovenija (SI)

1. 1. HEIS – Business Company Hydro-Engineering Institute shareholding company Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

1. 1. ZERO WASTE MONTENEGRO – Montenegro(ME)

1. 1. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture- Croatia
      (HR)

1. 1. Istrian development agency – IDA Ltd- Croatia (HR)

1. 1. Foundation Milieukontakt Albania-Albania (AL)

Associated partners

1. 1. Lombardy Intelligent Factory Association – Italy (IT)

1. Association for sustainable development and environmental protection Go Green Skopje – North Macedonia (MK)

Interreg Euro-MED – VERDEinMED PROJECT “‘PreVEnting and ReDucing the tEXtiles waste mountain in the MED area'”

Boosting the circular economy of the textile sector in the Mediterranean

• • The European VERDEinMED project aims to reduce textile waste in the Mediterranean region

• • The project is co-funded with nearly € 3 million by the Interreg Euro-MED programme

• • The consortium is made up of 10 partners and 15 associated partners from 11 different countries

Seville, XX April 2024. According to data from the European Union (EU), citizens generate 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste per year, of which only 22% is collected for reuse or recycling. In addition, and as stated by the United Nations (UN), the textile industry consumes large quantities of water, and is also the second most polluting industry after the oil industry.

For this reason, the European VERDEinMED project, ‘PreVEnting and ReDucing the tEXtiles waste mountain in the MED area’, has started its work to reduce textile waste in the Mediterranean region. The initiative, co-funded with nearly € 3 million by the EU Interreg Euro-MED programme, held its first consortium meeting in February in Kastoria (Greece) to define the next lines of action.

“Mediterranean countries face a common challenge of water scarcity, so in VERDEinMED we will focus on improving the sustainability of the textile and clothing value chain, promoting better use of resources and reducing its carbon footprint,” says Chrysovalantis Ketikidis, research associate at the Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas (CERTH) in Greece and coordinator of the project.

In addition, VERDEinMED will dedicate its efforts to the textile industry, supporting the adoption of processes and technologies focused on the circular economy. Aligned with the Waste Framework Directive, which mandates a separate collection of textiles by 2025, and with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, the project aims to create an innovative model of production and consumption patterns. Thus, VERDEinMED will seek a positive impact on society, the environment, and economics by proposing cost and resource efficient processes.

The VERDEinMED project is an initiative to promote the circular economy of the textile sector in the Mediterranean region. It aims to boost sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain, focusing on policy makers, businesses and consumers. VERDEinMED’s activities will be based on the Verde Bussola, a compendium of tools and knowledge to boost sustainability and circularity in the textile sector. In addition, the project will establish regional hubs, generate a Knowledge Platform and create a support service to industry, consumers and policy makers.

Tools to promote circularity

The VERDEinMED project is one of the 14 thematic projects of the Interreg Euro-MED Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission programme, and one of the two approved projects addressing the circular economy. Over the course of 33 months, its partners will develop tools to facilitate the transition to circularity and sustainability in the textile and clothing sector, covering critical issues such as industrial production techniques, consumption habits, and reuse and recycling options.

The creation of a Green Compass (Verde Bussola), understood as a compendium of the tools and knowledge generated in VERDEinMED, will be the basis for integrating the different activities to be developed by its partners. These include the creation of regional or national hubs, the establishment of a knowledge platform and the creation of a support service for businesses, policy makers and citizens.

25 Mediterranean entities

The VERDEinMED project, launched in January 2024, brings together 10 partners and 15 associated entities including research centres, companies, non-governmental organisations, public administrations, clusters and cooperatives. The 10 partners are located in 7 countries: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

In addition, the project has 15 associated partners who will spread the VERDEinMED message in the Interreg Euro-MED cooperation area. With the collaboration of institutions from Belgium, Lebanon, Tunisia and Turkey, 11 countries are involved in the initiative.

Below is the list of partners and entities associated to the project.

Partners:

• • CERTH – The Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas – Greece

• • Bulgarian Fashion Association – Bulgaria

• • CITEVE – Portugal

• • Confindustria Umbria- Italy

• • Consorci de la Ribera – Spain

• • Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía – Spain

• • Diadyma S.A. – Greece

• • e-Zavod – Slovenia

• • Legambiente – Italy

• • Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster (TTA-TC) – North Macedonia

Associated partners:

• • • • Agence Nationale de Promotion de la Recherche Scientifique (ANPR) – Tunisia
    • • American University of Beirut – Lebanon
    • • BURSA Fashion Week – Turkey
    • • Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Bulgaria
    • • Comune di Narni – Italy
    • • Dali Sport – Slovenia
    • • Dimos Kozanis – Greece
    • • Insieme Società Cooperativa Sociale a.r.l. – Italy
    • • Instituto Valenciano de Competitividad Empresarial – Spain
    • • Moden Vikend Skopje – North Macedonia
    • • Municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão – Portugal
    • • SASIA – Reciclagem de Fibras Têxteis S.A – Portugal
    • • Sistema Moda Italia – Federazione Tessile e Moda – Italy
    • • Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises – Belgium
    • • Zavod Korak Naprej Murska Sobota – Slovenia

Total budget of the project € 2 848 602,00.

Project duration 33 months.

Interreg funds € 2 278 881,60.

Visit our website verdeinmed.interreg-euro-med.eu