On June 22, 2017 in Kyiv as part of the demonstration component "Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production" of "Greening the Economies in the European Union’s Eastern Neighbourhood" programme (EaP GREEN) a round table "Learning from resource efficient and cleaner production to move towards the circular economy in Ukraine" was held.

The purpose of the event was to discuss approaches to resource efficient and cleaner production, experience of its implementation in Ukraine, principles of circular economy, priorities of state policy towards the goals of sustainable development and greening the industrial production.

The event was attended by representatives of Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, United Nation Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), international organizations and projects, public unions and organizations, business associations, education and science institutions.

In the presentation part of the event, speakers revealed the topical issues of the event.

Ms Mariia Tsybka, National Coordinator of demonstration project under EaP GREEN Programme in Ukraine, spoke about resource efficient and cleaner production as a necessary tool for transition to a model of zero waste economy.

The representative of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ms Maryna Shymkus outlined the environmental obligations of Ukraine arising from the Association Agreement with the EU concerning the environmental protection sector, in particular the development of environmental policy strategy.

Ms Lyudmila Musina, the National Coordinator of cooperation with UNIDO and the EaP GREEN programme in Ukraine, noted that the process of "green" modernization of economy is in a start point and but obtained a fast pace. The EaP GREEN programme has become a platform for the development of new business models: industrial symbiosis, ecoindustrial parks, RECP-services companies, chemical leasing, and circular economy.

Mr Heinz Leuenberger, UNIDO's Chief Technical consultant, spoke about UNIDO's support in implementation of the RECP and its compliance with the circular economy principles. He stressed the urgency of the industry's transition to closed production cycles and a reduction of generated waste in the world and in Ukraine.

Ms Tamara Burenko expressed the position of State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine in improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector of Ukraine and drew the attention of the participants to the need in changing the mind set of producers in the direction of smart usage of all resources.

From Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Mr Andrii Melnyk spoke about industrial parks as forms of business organization aimed at efficient consumption of resources, as well as conditions and prerequisites for the creation of eco-industrial parks in Ukraine.

Mr Igor Shylovych, Director of the RECP Centre in Ukraine, cited examples of the introduction of closed production cycles at enterprises around the world. He noted that the circular economy is a business that needs to start today and in 5-7 years we will feel significant results both in the economic sector and the environmental sphere.

All participants had the opportunity to express their thoughts and comments and ask questions to the speakers.

In the closing speech, Ms Lyudmila Musina noted that the implementation of the strategy of resource efficient and cleaner production has proved its effectiveness, so it will be logically to further develop a concept of circular economy implementation using RECP.

Presentations of participants:

esource efficient and cleaner production as a necessary tool for the transition to the model of circular economy (CE). Principles of CE and its implementation in the EU (M. Tsybka)

UNIDOs support to RECP contribution to circular economy principles (H. Leuenberger)

Experience of enterprises on the implementation of closed production cycles (I. Shylovych)

Industrial parks in Ukraine: state policy, development, preconditions and prospects for their transformation into eco-industrial parks (А. Melnyk)

Energy efficiency in industry of Ukraine (T. Burenko)

Green economy modernization in Ukraine (L. Musina)