Two companies from Krnješevci and Dobanovci develop businesses based on automotive and textile waste

With the support of the European Union within the project EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia, two companies in the vicinity of Belgrade recycle automotive and construction textile waste to create new products. This contributes to the transition from a linear to a circular business model, more efficient use of resources and energy, reduction of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as to a cleaner environment, announced the UNDP on its website.

– These are just two out of many examples how the EU supports Serbia entrepreneurs, we give an opportunity to their creativity and ingenuity to help the country to become greener while also helping the economic growth. The environment and the economy must go together. Sustainable businesses are vital elements of a greener future – said Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia.

Thanks to EU co-financing, the company Steel Impex has acquired an air filtration system along with equipment that enables them to recycle 80%-90% of a single vehicle in Krnješevci. By separating different metal fractions from automotive waste, the company will produce high-purity metal granules that can be used by local foundries. This will reduce the amount of automotive waste in the country by over 165,000 tons in the next 20 years.

– Reusing and reducing waste is beneficial for the environment, people and their health, but also for the economy as it reduces the cost of business operations and increases the competitiveness of companies in the foreign markets. Together with the European Union and other partners, UNDP will continue to support innovators whose initiatives contribute to the green transition of Serbia’s economy and society – stated Yakup Beris, UNDP Serbia Resident Representative.

The EU Ambassador and the UNDP Resident Representative also visited the company ArTech Engineering from Dobanovci. The company is developing a new material called "Retex", to be produced out of textile leftovers from the production of tents, awnings, and tarpaulins. This material is suitable for use in construction, as insulation, and in interior decoration.

Within the EU for the Green Agenda initiative, 66 "green" innovations with a total value of USD 25 million have been implemented so far, thanks to financial support of the EU, Switzerland, and the Government of Serbia.

The presentation of innovations by the companies Steel Impex and ArTech Engineering was organized within the EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia initiative, implemented by UNDP with the technical and financial support by the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funding provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.

Ministarstvo zaštite životne sredine Republike Srbije

Steel-impex doo Petrovaradin

ArTech inženjering d.o.o. Beograd

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

Ambasada Kraljevine Švedske Beograd

Evropska investiciona banka EIB

Ministry of Environmental Protection

Steel Impex Krnješevci

ArTech Inženjering Dobanovci

EU Delegation to Serbia

Embassy of Sweden

European Investment Bank

EIB

Emanuele Giaufret

Yakup Beris

recycling

automotive waste

construction textile waste

Green Agenda

greenhouse gases

GHG

innovations

green transition

construction

Retex