Eco-innovationinItaly

EIOCountryProfile

2014-2015

Eco-InnovationObservatory

The Eco-Innovation Observatory functions as a platform for the structured collection and

analysisofanextensiverangeofeco-innovationinformationgatheredfromacrosstheEuropeanUnion and key economic regions around the globe, thus providing amuch-needed integratedinformationresourceoneco-innovationforcompaniesandinnovationserviceproviders,aswellasprovidingasoliddecision-makingbasisforpolicydevelopment.

The Observatory approaches eco-innovation as a persuasive phenomenon present in alleconomicsectors.Itisthereforerelevantforalltypesofinnovation.Itisdefinedasfollows:

“Eco-innovation isany innovationthatreducestheuseofnaturalresourcesanddecreasesthereleaseofharmfulsubstancesacrossthewholelife-cycle”.

Tolearnmore,visitwww.eco-innovation.euandec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap

Any views or opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do notnecessarilyreflectthepositionoftheEuropeanCommission.

Eco-InnovationObservatoryCountryProfile2014-2015:Italy

Authors:MassimilianoMazzanti,ClaudiaGhisetti,MariannaGilli

Coordinatoroftheworkpackage:TechnopolisGroupBelgium

Acknowledgments

TheauthorswouldliketoacknowledgethecontributionsofENEA(EnteperleNuovetecnologiel'Energiael'Ambiente),DepartmentforSustainabilityandEnergyEfficiencyTechnicalUnit,andthesupportofAldoRavazzi,BenedettaDell’AnnoandAlessandroPerufromtheItalianMinistryoftheEnvironment(MATTM).

AnotetoReaders

Any views or opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do notnecessarily reflect the position of the European Union. This report presents a number ofcompanies as illustrative examples of eco-innovation. The EIO does not endorse thesecompaniesandisnotanexhaustivesourceofinformationoninnovationatthecompanylevel.

This brief is available for download fromhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/italy

Tableofcontents

Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......1

Introduction.......................................................................................................................2

1 |Eco-innovationperformance............................................................................4

2 |Selectedcirculareconomyandeco-innovationareasandnewtrends..............6

3 |Barriersanddriverstocirculareconomyandeco-innovationinItaly..............13

4 |Policylandscape:towardscirculareconomyinItaly.......................................15

ANNEX:Policymeasuresaddressingcirculareconomyandeco-innovationsinItaly.........23

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Summary

ItalyisamongthelargesteconomiesintheEuropeanUniondespitethefactthattheeconomiccrisesattheendofthe2000scompromisedseveraleconomicactivities.However,asnotedbythe OECD1, Italy’s GDP is expected to rise by 1.4% between 2016 and 2017, while thegovernmentbudgetdeficitwillcontinuetodeclinegradually.Furthermore,theOECDnotesthata largepartoftheItaliandeclineinGHGemissionscanbeattributedtothecrisisandthat“Astherecoverystrengthens,containingthegrowthinemissionswilldependonsimplifyingenergyefficiencyincentivesandselectingthoseentailingthelowestabatementcosts2”.Eco-innovationandthecirculareconomythusappeartobekeyaspectsoftherelaunchoftheItalianeconomy.

The present report will show that Italian eco-innovative performances have improved withrespect to previous years and that in absolute terms they are well above the mean EU28performances.

The still-low private and public R&D expenditures can be explained by the Italian industrialstructure,whichismainlycomposedofsmall-mediumenterprises(SMEs)andfamilybusinesses,whichhaveonlylimitedaccesstocreditandoftenarenotofalargeenoughscaletoundertakeR&D projects. Nevertheless, the country shows great potential for specialising in renewableenergy technologies,which, as shown in section 4, have beenwell supported by policies andregulations.

Thisreportwillalsoanalyse indepththebarrierstoandthedriversofeco-innovationandthecircular economy, especially those related to the economic system, technological trajectories,human resources and natural resources management, as well as those related to theorganisationalaspectsoffirms.

Finally,anextensivedescriptionofthepolicyandregulationsysteminsupportofeco-innovationandthecirculareconomyisoffered,withafocusonboththenationalandregionallevels,giventhehighdecentralisationofresourcesandwastepoliciesattheregionalandmunicipallevels.

1http://www.oecd.org/economy/italy-economic-forecast-summary.htm

2http://www.oecd.org/economy/italy-economic-forecast-summary.htm

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Introduction

Italy is a country facing significant challenges in linking its economic and environmentalproductivities. On the economic side, Italy has high public debt and growth that is below itspotential; labour productivity (Figure 1) has constantly decreased since the beginning of the2000s and at present is below the European average3. Nevertheless, resource productivity(Figure2) isabovetheEU28average,a factthatcanbepartiallyexplainedby limitednationalresources,ashortageofrawmaterials,andstrongimplementationofpoliciesinthewasteandmaterialrealms.

Asfaraswastemanagementanddisposalareconcerned,Italyranksinthemiddle(EEA2014),withslowbutongoingimprovementsinperformance.Thehighdecentralizationofresourceandwastepolicies at the regional andalsoat themunicipal level remainsan institutional feature.Flexibilityofpolicyimplementation,withthepossibleemergenceofregional'leaders',increasesthedivergenceinperformanceacrossdifferentareas(MazzantiandMontini,2014).

Regardingclimatechange,criticalareasremainthetransportationandhouseholdsectors,whileindustryhasshownpositivechangeinenvironmentalefficiency.In2013itreachedtheEU2020target of a 17% share of renewable energy and energy efficiency, with most investmentsdevotedtothephotovoltaicsector(45%).Investmentsinrenewableshave,however,collapsedduetoretroactivecutsinfiscalincentives4.Italy,accordingtorecentprojections,isalsoontrackto reach its target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the “Collegato Ambientale”(discussedinSection4)wouldhelpinincreasingsustainableconsumptionandproduction.GHGemissions not covered by the emission-trading scheme (ETS) should be reduced by 13%comparedto2005undertheEUstrategy; the latest figuresshowadecreaseofapproximately18%in20155.ItisworthnotinghowthispromisingemissionperformanceispartiallydependentonItaly’slowemploymentgrowth(currently1.1%with11.5%unemploymentrate).Theroleofeco-innovation will be crucial in sustaining this emission performance while the economyrecoverstowardsfullemployment.

Totalenvironmentaltaxationishigh(3.5%ofGDPin2014,or57.65billioneuros),thoughtaxesareinfrequentlycorrelatedwithexternalities.Therevenuederivedfromresourceandpollutiontaxes has decreased in real terms and remains below 600 million, with the largest sharerepresentedbytheregionallandfilltaxintroducedin1996.

PerformancesareconsistentwithItaliantechnologicalspecializations6.Italyrankshighinwaterpollutionabatementandwastemanagement.Itisweakerinenergygenerationfromrenewablesandnon-fossilfuels,despitetheincreasingshareofrenewableenergysourcesinthecountry.Infact,in2013Italyreachedthe2020targetforrenewableenergy(17.1%)andenergyefficiency.Itisalsoweakintheareaofemissionabatementandfuelefficiencyintransportation(exceptfuel

3OwnelaborationbasedonthelatestEurostatdata

4Foradetailedpicture,refertotheReportbytheFrankfurtSchool-UnepCentre/Bnef(2015)“GlobalTrendsinRenewableEnergyInvestment”

5http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Greenhouse_gas_emission_statistics

6http://ecoinnovationcouncil.it/

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efficiencythroughimprovingvehicledesign,aproductinnovation).Energyefficiencyinbuildingandlighting isalsonotakeystrength.Finally,Italyhasachievedimpressivelevelsofpatentingandinnovationintheareaof'greenchemistry,'specificallyingreenplasticsandbiodegradablepackaging.

Figure1-ResourceproductivityinItalyandEU28.

Figure2-LabourProductivityinItalyandEU28.

85

90

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100

105

110

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

EU28 Italy

0.0000

0.5000

1.0000

1.5000

2.0000

2.5000

3.0000

3.5000

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

EuropeanUnion(28countries) Italy

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1 |Eco-innovationperformance

TheanalysisinthissectionisbasedontheEU-28Eco-innovationscoreboard(Eco-IS)fortheyear2015.ViaitscompositeEco-innovationindex,producedbytheEco-InnovationObservatory(EIO),Eco-IS demonstrates the eco-innovation performance of a country compared with the EUaverageandwiththeEUtopperformers.Eco-IS isbasedon16 indicators,aggregatedintofivecomponents: eco-innovation inputs, activities and outputs, environmental and socio-economicoutcomes

Figure3EU27Eco-innovationscoreboard2015,compositeindex

Source:EIO,2016

Italy reports a value in the composite indicator of 105.6,which is 5.6 points higher than theEuropean average. In absolute terms, Italy thus presents quite a strong performance withrespecttotheotherEuropeancountries,anditisthe9thrankedcountryafterDenmark,Ireland,Luxembourg, Finland, Germany, Sweden, France and Austria. In relative terms, Italy hasimproved its EI performance with respect to the past: in 2014 it was ranked below the EUaveragewithascoreof95pointsandthe12thpositionintheranking.

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Figure3Componentsoftheeco-innovationcompositeindexforItaly2015

Thedecompositionofthecompositeindicatorintothefivedimensionsthatconstituteitshowsthat positive contributions to the overall mean value are reported for four out of the fivecomponents, indicating Italy’s balanced positive contribution to the composite index. Inparticular, Italy excels with respect to the European average under the dimensions “Eco-innovation activities”, “Eco-innovation outputs”, “Resource efficiency outcomes” and “Socio-Economicoutcomes”. Themajor contributor is “Eco-Innovationactivities”with a valueof 118and11thplaceintherankingvs.14thplacein2014;thisisfollowedby“Eco-innovationoutputs”,withavalueof117and8thplaceintherankingvs.9thin2014,“Resourceefficiencyoutcomes”,withavalueof116and4thintherankingvs.8thin2014,and“Socio-Economicoutcomes”withavalueof101and10th intherankingvs.11th in2014.Overall, Italyhas improved itsposition intherankingwithrespecttoallfourdimensionsconsideredbytheEIS2014,and,furthermore,inthe previous EIS it was above the EU average only with respect to the dimensions “Eco-innovationoutputs”and“ResourceEfficiencyoutcomes.”

However, the dimension “Eco-Innovation inputs” reports values that are worse than theEuropeanaverage,withavalueof75,which is25points lowerthantheEUaverage;Italyalsoranks15th inthissingledimension,signallingthatitsmainweaknessis inthisdimension.Moreprecisely,thetotalvalueofgreenearlystageinvestmentsistheweakestofthethreeindicatorsthat constitute the dimension “Eco-Innovation inputs”. This is consistentwith the past EIS, inwhichthecomponent“Eco-Innovationinputs”wasbelowtheEUaverage.However,inthepastEISItaly’srelativerankingforthisdimensionwas13thratherthan15th,thussignallingadeclineinthisdimension.

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2 |Selectedcirculareconomyandeco-innovationareasandnewtrends

Between 2014 and 2015, Italy was among the countries with the largest number of firmsfinanced by the European Union through the SME instrument, a program within the H2020framework that is specifically addressed to small and medium sized innovative enterprises7.Amongfieldssuchasnanotechnologyandtransport,Italianfirmsarealsoleadersinthefieldofeco-innovation(where36SMEsobtainedfinancingfor28projects),especiallythose located inregionssuchasLombardy,Emilia-RomagnaandLazio.

Italy’s eco-innovation and circular economy development are characterised by the followinginnovationareas.

Recyclingandwaste:Whereasinthepasteditionofthereport,Italywascitedforitshighshareofregenerationofmineraloil,updated2014datashowthatithasreducedby3%theamountofmineral oil recycled, which amounted to 167.000 t or 44% of its consumption. Otherimprovementsshouldbenoted instead: the increase (upto80%) inre-useand/orrecyclingofnon-functional motor vehicles, the increase by 12% of textile waste recycling and by 2% ofpackagingrecycling,the7%reduction intheproductionofconstructionanddemolitionwaste,and the reduction in consumptionofbatteries and the increase in their collectionup to39%,which is 14points higher than the imposed requirement. The collectionofwaste in electricalandelectronicequipment(WEEE)alsoincreasedby3%in2014,withapro-capitameanvalueof3.81 kg8. In this last respect, particular attention should be paid to the WEELABEX initiative(http://www.weeelabex.org/) and its certification criteria for the conformity verification ofWEEE. Given the centrality of waste reduction, recycling and re-use in a circular economy,additionalinformationontheItaliancirculareconomystrategyisneededandwillbeaddressedinSection4.

R&DandEco-Innovation:ThecountryisstillcharacterisedbylowR&Dinvestmentlevels,with1.29% R&D intensity (total R&D expenditures as a share of Gross Domestic Product) vs. the2.03%EUaverage,bythescarcityofpublic funding instruments,bythescarcityofhighskilledhumanresources,andbythelowshareofhigh-techmanufacturingactivities(Source:Eurostat).PublicenvironmentalR&Disalso lowerthantheEUaverage,witha6.5%sharespentontotalpublic expenditure compared to themean EU value of 6.8% in 2013. This is reflected in the“environmental” innovation realm, in which the space for radical innovations remains scant,whilemostenvironmental innovationsare incremental– thus requiring lower innovation risksand investment levels. When considering innovation data by examining patent data inenvironmental technologies, there emerges a specialization in the field of “generalenvironmentalmanagement” technologies,mainly due tohighpatenting activities in the sub-fields of water pollution abatement and waste management, in which Italy shows elevatedexportshares.However,themajorityofItalianenvironmentalpatentsarerelatedtothefieldof

7http://lucaorlando.blog.ilsole24ore.com/2016/04/18/argento-italiano-nei-fondi-horizon-2020/

8Forfurtherinformation,thefollowingsourcehasbeenusedtoextracttrendsandelaborations:L’ItaliadelRiciclo2015,FondazioneperloSviluppoSostenibileandFISEUNIRE–UnioneNazionaleImpreseRecupero,Rome.

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“renewableenergygeneration”.9Theso-called“greenfirms”,i.e.,firmsthatproducegoodsorserviceswithhighenvironmental value, amount to27.5%of the total in Italy (2015).Mostofthese belong to the Agriculture sector, of which 40.6% of firms are green, followed byConstruction (38.8%) and Industry (35.4%). These green firms overall show better economicperformances and export levels as well, signalling that they have responded better to theeconomicdownturnthanhaveotherfirms10.

Sustainabletransportation:With61carsforevery100inhabitants,ItalyhasthesecondhighestEuropean index for private transportation, after Luxembourg. Emissions from the transportsectorremainat1990levelsintermsofCO2equivalents.Positivesignalscome,however,fromdataonsalesofalternativefuelcars(mainlygas),whichreached15.3%oftotalcarsalesin2013(source: Eurostat). In the context of the obligations borne by the fuel suppliers, it is worthmentioningthattheblendingoffossilfuelswithbiofuels(DM10October2014),whenthelattercomefrombiowasteandresidues,willbeincentivised.

Negativesignalscomefromtheamountofpublicexpendituresforpublictransportation,whichhavebeendecreasingdramaticallyinrecentyears(source:Istat).

Intheboxesareselectedcasestudiesofeco-innovationandthecirculareconomy.

ACEAPINEROLESEINDUSTRIALSPA(Turin)

Thecompanyaddresses, interalia, theproductionofbiogas via anaerobic digestion (AD), inwhich heat issuppliedbyadistrictheatingnetwork inthetownofPinerolo(nearTurin).

TheADtakesplacesolelybythepowerofMSW(theorganic fraction of municipal solid waste) collectedfromTurinandthesurroundingcities.

Since 2014, a portion of the biogas has beenconverted into biomethane,which can powermotorvehiclesforciviluse.

Source and Further information:www.aceapinerolese.it/

Keywords:bioenergy;recycling

9 Further information on patents in environmental technologies and specialisation can be found in the report: “Tecnologia eInnovazione nella Green Economy Italiana – Rapporto 2015”, Osservatorio Innovazione e Tecnologia per la Green Economy,Septermber2015,Rome.

10Detailsontheconstructionofthedataandgreenfirmsindicatorscanbefoundinthe“Relazionesullostatodellagreeneconomyin Italia 2015”, Edo Ronchi, available here http://www.statigenerali.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/relazione_lo_stato_della_green_economy_in_Italia.pdf

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GREENDIESEL–PortoMarghera(Venice)

TheGreenRefineryprojectisthefirstexampleoftheconversion of a conventional oil refinery into abiorefinery.

ThenewrenewablecomponentproducedbyEniatitsbiorefinery in Venice is called "Green Diesel." It isproducedthroughthehydrogenationofvegetableoilsusing Ecofining™ technology, which is able tocompletelyeliminatetheoxygencontainedintherawmaterial, thusproducinga fullyhydrocarbonproductthat is perfectly compatible with the fossil fuel towhichitisadded.

SourceandFurtherinformation:www.eni.com

Keywords:bioenergy,eco-innovation

REMADEINITALY

Remadein Italy isanon-profitorganizationfoundedin 2009 by the Lombardy Region, CONAI (the ItalianUnion for packaging material), the Chamber ofCommerceofMilanandCONAIforthepromotion,atthe national and international level, of products"madeinItaly"arisingfromrecycling.

In2014,RemadeinItalywasrecognizedbyACCREDIA(the Italianbody forcertification),becomingthe firstcertification scheme accredited in Italy for theverification of recycled content in a product. Thecertification Remade in Italy certifies traceability ofproduction within the same production chain, fromthe verification of the origins of incoming rawmaterials to the output of the certified products,makingitatoolspecificallyrecognizedingreenpublicprocurement as a model for the verification of thequalityandsustainabilityofrecycling.

Remade in Italy® products are identified by a labelthat contains information about the sustainabilitycharacteristics of the product, in terms of rawmaterial savings, reduction of energy consumptionandreducedCO2emissions.

Sourceandfurtherinformation:

http://www.remadeinitaly.it/

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Recovery of critical raw materials from WEEE andthehydrometallurgicalpilotplant“ROMEO”

ENEA (www.enea.it), the Italian National Agency for

NewTechnologies, EnergyandEconomic Sustainable

Development, active in the field of eco-innovation,

develops and implements technologies,

methodologies and integrated approaches for the

efficientuseofresourcesandtheclosureof loopsat

themicro, meso andmacro levels, with a particular

focus on recycling technologies up to pre-industrial

pilot scale technologies. With regard to the specific

sectorofcriticalrawmaterialsrecoveryfromelectric

and electronic equipment waste (WEEE), an

innovative hydrometallurgical process for the

recovery of added value rawmaterials such as gold,

tin, silver and copper from printed circuit boards

(PCBs)hasbeendeveloped,testedandpatented.

This has been completed with the realization of a

modularandflexiblepilotplantatpre-industrialscale,

named “ROMEO” (Recovery Of MEtals by

hydrOmetallurgy) located at the ENEA Casaccia

ResearchCentre(Rome).Thepilotplantallowstesting

hydrometallurgical processes to recover valuable

materials from complex end of life products and

urban waste and industrial scraps, including their

technical and economic efficiency, risk-benefit

analysis, industrialisation scale-up feasibility and

businessplandefinition.

SourceandFurtherinformation:«Hydrometallurgical process for the

recoveryofrawmaterials fromprinted

circuitboards»

Patentapplicationn.RM2013A000549,

PCTIB2014065131

«Apparatusforhighaddedvalueraw

materialsleachingandseparationin

printedcircuitboards»

Patentapplicationn.RM2015A000064

Keywords: WEEE; Printed CircuitBoards; recovery of precious metals;Hydrometallurgy

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CIB–CONSORZIOITALIANOBIOGAS

CIB-theItalianConsortiumBiogasandGasification–

is the first voluntaryassociation thatbrings together

companies producing biogas and syngas from

renewable sources (mainly agricultural biomass),

companies and suppliers of equipment and

technology, industrial companies, organizations and

institutions. CIB intends to be the “technical

reference” in thebiogasandgasificationsector,with

the aim of providing guidance to consortium

members to improve the management of the

production process and to contribute to the

attainment of national renewable energy goals for

2020.

SourceandFurtherinformation:

www.consorziobiogas.it

EcoTecnoMat

EcoTecnoMat S.r.l. is a spin-off of the University ofModena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) aimed atfostering product and process technologicalinnovation. It isdedicatedtoresearch. It inventsanddevelops materials with reduced environmentalimpact mainly (but not only) in the two sectors ofceramicsandconstruction,whichcombineinnovationandcircularity.Fromtherecyclingandreuseofwasteand the use of secondary raw materials, throughinnovation, the spinoff invents and commercializesnewproductsandprocesses. Environmentalbenefitsinclude reducing waste generation, fostering re-useand circularity of materials in sectors with relevantenvironmentalpressures(ceramicsandconstruction),andpromotingeco-innovation.

Source and Further information:http://www.ecotecnomat.eu/

Keywords: Ceramic, Eco-Innovation;Circular Economy; Raw materialreduction;Research.

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“RevetRecycling”andplasmixrecycling

Plastic recycling ishandled inan innovativeway thatallowsfortheseconduseofplasticasifitwerearawmaterial for certain applications. The company thathas implemented such eco-innovation is “RevetRecycling” s.r.l., an Italian manufacturing firm. Theinnovation is related to the recycling of postconsumptionpackagingmixedplastics(plastimix)andof industrial waste, which are transformed into aplastic granulate. The plastic granulate is then usedfor several applications and re-products, e.g., forurban fabric, prefabricated or even automotivecomponents.

Source picture and furtherinformation: http://www.revet-recycling.com/

Keywords: Plastic;Recycling–Re-Use;Plastimix

“Sorgente Urbana” and Case dell’Acqua – Heraproject

Hera Group (www.gruppohera.it), the regional

NorthernItalianmulti-utilityforgas,water,wasteand

electricity provision, has launched a project for the

urbandistributionofwaterthroughtheinstallationof

publicwatersourcesincoreurbanenvironments.The

environmental impact of this innovation is that of

reducing the need for plastic packaging and the

productionofplasticbottlesandtheirwaste.Wateris

provided both still and sparkling. This innovation,

combinedwithsocial innovation instrumentssuchas

dedicated apps to map public water sources (e.g.,

http://www.fontanelle.org/) can greatly reduce

plasticwaste.

Source and Further information:http://www.gruppohera.it/gruppo/attivita_servizi/business_acqua/canale_acqua/sorgente_urbana/

Keywords: Water; Plastic packagingreduction

Industrial symbiosis. Industrial symbiosis ismentioned as one of the enabling factors for thecirculareconomyinthebusinessmodelcategory(EEA,2016),inwhichcollaborationandculturalchallengesareneededtofostereco-innovationactionsatasystemic level.Thisshould includedifferentstakeholders,supplychains,expertise,technologiesandproducts.Thisapproachisnotonlyapotentialfactorinthecompetitivenessofindustrialactivitiesbutalsoadevelopingassetfortheregion,inwhichallresourcesareexploitedlocallyandnotdissipated,delegatedorgivenawaytothirdparties.TheISstrategyforsharingresourcescanbeactivatedamongcompanies

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present within a region (network for IS) and in industrial areas or industrial clusters for thetransition to so-called“eco-industrialparks”,partly represented in ItalybyAPEAs (EcologicallyEquippedProductiveAreas). In Italy thereareexamplesofbothapproaches,starting fromthefirstregionalplatformof industrialsymbiosis inSicilyto implementations inotherregions(seetheboxongoodpractices)inthemiddleandnorthofItaly(ENEA,2015).IS,madethroughICTgeo-refereedtools,canalsosupportlocaldevelopmentthroughenhancedrecoveryofindustrialresiduesproducedbymanysinglegenerationpointsandvalorisedinbarycentricplants(ornewplants). This methodology thus offers economic, environmental and social advantages: jobcreation,landfillavoidance,resourceconservation,costreduction,andsharingandmaintainingresourcesinlocalareas.

SuccessfulcasesofindustrialsymbiosisinIT:

Industrial Symbiosis pilot projectswere developed, bothwith network and ecoindustrial parkapproaches:

- Networkingapproach: IndustrialSymbiosis inSicily (IT),aprojectcoordinatedbyENEAwiththecollaborationofthemainlocalstakeholders(chamberofcommerce,industrialassociations,universities).Mainresults:90companies involved,400 input-outputdatashared,more than600potential synergies; focus for industrial symbiosispathwaysonagroindustry, construction and plastics residues; methodology and ICT tool set up(www.industrialsymbiosis.it).

- Networking approach: “Green Economy and Sustainable Development” project inEmilia-Romagnaregion(IT),promotedbyASTERandUnioncamerewithcoordinationofENEA.Main results: 13 companies involved, 7 research labs cooperating, 90 potentialsynergieswithin andoutside thenetwork; focuson residues fromagroindustry sector(mainsynergiesforenergy,bioplasticsandnutraceuticalsubstancesproduction).

- IndustrialAreaapproach:intheIndustrialclusterofRIETI(IT),coordinatedbyENEAand

withthesupportofthelocalconsortiumforitsgreendevelopmentwithfocusonWEEE,

plastics, agrifood, construction residues. Main results: 25 companies involved, more

than 140 resources shared, approximately 110 potential matches and 30 technically

verifiedmatches.

- keywordsIndustrialsymbiosis;WEEE,plastics,agrifood,constructionresidues.

- Contacts: Laura Cutaia, laura.cutaia@enea.it, and Grazia Barberiograzia.barberio@enea.it.

Sharing Economy. The sharing economy is a reinvention of traditional market behavioursemphasising collaborative consumptionmodels. Rather than simple consumption, the sharingeconomy is founded on the principle of maximizing the utility of assets via renting, lending,swapping, bartering and giving—facilitated by technology. The sharing economy provides theability to unlock the untapped social, economic and environmental value of underutilized

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assets11.TheEuropeanParliament12hasrecentlyestimatedtheimpactofsharingeconomy,i.e.,theyearlypercapitaexpenditurethatcouldbe"replaced"withtheuseofthesharingeconomy,asrangingfrom1,100europeryearinBulgariato14,600inLuxembourgand7,200inItaly.Oneof theprincipal assets comes from themobility sector13. Especially in Italy, the average car isparked88%ofthetime,andwhenthecarisused,only1.5ofits5seatsareoccupied.SharingEconomyplatformsaregrowingin Italyandhaveincreasedby22%:from97in2014to118in201514. Users are, in general, very satisfied and ratings are high for respondents’ categories:accommodationisthehighestrankedactivityarea,followedbytransportationandsecondhandmarkets,andfinally,collaborativelifestyles.15

3 |Barrierstoanddriversofthecirculareconomyandeco-innovationinItaly

Barrierstoeco-innovationandthecirculareconomyin Italyareofdifferentnatures:therearestructural barriers, such as those related to the economy and technology, aswell as barriersrelated to policy and regulation. The following paragraphs aim to summarize these differentfacets.

Economicbarriers.AsnotedbyMarkianidou(2014),theavailabilityofriskcapitalforboththecreationandcontinuationofeco-innovativeprojectsremainsscarce.TheOECD(2013)outlinestwo main barriers that contribute to maintaining a low rate of R&D and innovation/eco-innovation investments: (i) barriers to market entry by new companies, which stem fromregulatory burdens and (ii) the Italian industrial structure,which ismainly composedof smallandfamilybusinesses(SMEs)thathavelessaccesstocapitalandthereforefacemorechallengesinmeetingthehighcostofresearch.

Technological barriers. As outlined by the OECD (2013), Italy’s general innovation capacity isbehind thatofotherEuropeancountries.Nevertheless, therehasbeenmajordevelopment inthe areaof green technologies related to renewable energy generation andnon-fossil energygeneration. This has been due to (i) increased pressure from the EuropeanUnion to achieveenvironmentalgoalsrelatedtoclimatechange;(ii)theconsequentsetupofastrongregulatorysystem to support the increase in renewable energy generation (see also section 4 on policylandscapes); together with (iii) increased public R&D funding for these technologies, mainlydirected towards research in the fieldsofwaterpollutionabatement andwastemanagement

11World Economic Forum’s YoungGlobal Leaders Sharing EconomyWorkingGroup: Position paper; 2013. Interviewwith RachelBotsman,FounderofCollaborativeLabandauthor,withRooRogers,ofWhat’sMine isYours:HowCollaborativeConsumption isChangingtheWayweLive,HarperBusiness,2010.

12EuropeanParliament’sDirectorate-GeneralforParliamentaryResearchServices“TheCostofNon-EuropeintheSharingEconomy:Economic,SocialandLegalChallengesandOpportunities“,January2016.

13EllenMacArthurFoundation“GrowthWithin:acirculareconomyvisionforacompetitiveEurope”,FirstpublishedJune25,2015.

14MartaMainieri“SharingEconomy.Mappaturadellepiattaformeitaliane2015”,Collaboriamo.org,2015.

15Altroconsumoetal.“COLLABORATIONORBUSINESS?Collaborativeconsumption:fromvalueforuserstoasocietywithvalues.”OCUEdicionesSA,2016.

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technologies.GhisettiandRennings(2014)havefoundthatinnovationsrelatedtothereductionofenergyandmaterialsusedperunitofoutputcanpositivelyaffectfirms’competitivenessandcan therefore be a good strategy fromamacroeconomic perspective; this strategymay driveincreasedproductivityamongItalianfirms,whichisnecessaryifthecountryistorecoverfromrecessionandsetthebasisforlongtermgrowth.Eco-innovationalsoplaysarelevantroleintheservices sector. Cainelli and Mazzanti (2012) investigated eco-innovation adoption in themanufacturing-relatedservicessectorandtestedwhetherenvironmentalpolicyintheindustrialsectorisrelevanttoinducingeco-innovation.Theyfoundthatforcarbonabatementandenergyefficiency technologies, driversof eco-innovationdiffer greatly and that cooperation, training,environmentalmanagement systems (EMSs) and public funding are key determinants of eco-innovationprocesses.

Human resources and knowledge capital. According to the most recent OECD report oneducation (2015), 24% of the overall Italian population has completed tertiary education(includingbothabachelor’sandmaster’sdegree),butonly13%of thepopulationaged25-64hasattainedamaster’sdegree;lessthan1%ofthepopulationhasaPhD.Graduatesinscienceand technology fields account for 14.5% of those with tertiary education. Secondary leveleducationisthemostcommonlevelofachievementamongtheItalianpopulation(42%).Thereis a striking need for strong improvement in the educational sector. In fact, as noted by theOECDin2013,(i)thenumberofItalianresearcherswhoareworkinginthecountryislowerthanOECD standards and (ii) a significant proportion of Italian researchers are attracted by careerdevelopmentopportunitiesabroad.Asecondissueisthelackofknowledgeexchangebetweenacademiaandindustry,whichthegovernmentistryingtoovercomethroughprogrammessuchas the National Research Programme (PRIN) or the Projects of Industrial Innovation (PII),proposedbytheIndustria2015strategy.

Natural capital. According to the OECD16, Italy has improved the management of its naturalresources and energy consumption. From the perspective of raw materials, Italy has anabundanceofnon-metallicmineralmetals,whichusedfortheproductionofglassandceramic.However,itisanimporterofenergyresources.AccordingtoISPRA(2012),Italy’simportsareonaverage 2.3 times higher than its exports, and its dependence on foreign countries for rawmaterials makes Italy, likemost European countries, a net importer of material resources. Amajorproblem is landscarcity:according to ISPRA (2015),asa resultof severalunsustainabledecisions, land consumption is progressing and continues to generate an irreversible loss ofvaluable environmental resources and ecosystem functions, generating instability and erosiontogetherwithcontaminationanddesertification,whichnegativelyaffectthetransformationandbeauty of Italian territory. Finally, concerning water, there are inefficiencies in Italy’s waterprocurementnetworksandproblemswithwaterpollution,17althoughdrinkingwaterquality isperceived as generally good (OECD 2011). Progress is being made in reducing internal andcoastalwaterpollutionthankstotheadoptionofEUdirectives2000/60/EC(WaterFrameworkDirective)and2008/56/EC(MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective).

16http://www.oecd.org/environment/italy-environment-improving-but-more-effort-needed.htm

17Pollutants in rivers, lakesandcoastalwatersaremainlycomposedof faecalpollutants, toxicandharmful inorganicsubstances,naturalnon-organic substances, andoils andemulsifiersderived fromhouseholdactivities, aswell asbymetals, phosphatesandpolyphosphatesfromindustrialactivities(ISPRA2012)

15

Organisationalaspectsof firms.Researchrelatedto the implementationofnewmanagementpractices by firms, such as in Antonioli et al (2013), can provide a new understanding of theeffects of firms’ organisational changes on EI adoption. Specifically, Antonioli et al. studywhetherenvironmentalstrategiesandhumanresourcestrainingareintegratedwiththegoaloffostering eco-innovation adoption. Although they examine one of the most competitive anddensely industrialized regions of Italy (Emilia Romagna), they do not find evidence ofcomplementaritybetweenthesestrategies.Apossibleexplanation,theauthorsconclude,isthatgreenstrategiesarenotyetfullyembeddedwithinthefirms’organisationalstrategies.

Regulatoryandpolicyframework.Policieshavebeenrelevanttobothrenewablesandenergyefficiency, with generous incentives provided to the electricity sector. Section 4, on policylandscapes,willdiscusstheseareasingreaterdetail.Cainellietal.,(2015),studyingincentivestoadoptwaste-relatedinnovationinthemanufacturingsector,foundthatregionalfactorsrelatedto both waste management and policy are relevant to the adoption of eco-innovation.Moreover, theyshowthatbetter regionalseparatedwastecollectionandstricterwastepolicycanpositively influencethe likelihoodofadoptingeco-innovation.Borghesietal., (2013),whoinvestigatedtheroleoftheEU-ETSontheItalianmanufacturingsector,foundthatalthoughETSsectorsaremore innovative, the increasing stringencyof sector-specificpolicy canbecounterproductive, mainly because of sector-specific factors as well as anticipatory behaviour fromforward-thinkinginnovativefirms.

4 |Policylandscape:towardsacirculareconomyinItaly

Thelatestdevelopmentsrelatedtoeco-innovationpolicymeasures,fundingschemesandpolicytargetscanbesummarisedas follows,withaspecificemphasison therecentdevelopmentofcirculareconomypoliciesattheregionalandnationallevels.

Themainreferenceisthebill 'Collegatoambientale',whichenteredintoforceonFebruary4th2016(Bill28December2015-221).Itcontainsanationalplanforsustainableconsumptionandproductionaswellasmanynewpoliciesandfundingschemesforwaste,resourcesandcirculareconomy targets.A keyunexploitedoption in recent yearswas the 'delega fiscale' (fiscal bill)thatwasapprovedon24February2014 (“Delegation to thegovernment fordefininga fairer,moretransparentandgrowth-orientedfiscalsystem”).Article15mentioned,forthefirsttime,environmental fiscal issues that could be implemented along various lines. We recall that in2011,EEAestimatedarevenuepotentialofapproximately30Billion€(comparedtothecurrent1Billion).ThedeadlinepassedinMay2015withnofiscalimplementation.

Energy efficiency in buildings. The 2007-2014 energy efficiency tax rebates, which costapproximately12billion in tax revenues,havebeen re-implemented in the2016 financialbill.Thesefundingschemesrepresentasubstantialleveronincreasesinenergyefficiency,servingtoincentivise thebestavailable technologies.Foramore integratedandcoherentenergypolicy,subsidiesandincentivesmightbecorrelatedinthefuturewithenvironmentaltaxationrevenueswithin ecological tax reforms. A stronger taxation on externalities, alongwith the removal ofenvironmentallyharmfulsubsidies,couldbecombinedwithinnovationandenergyefficiencytaxrebates.TherevenuethatItalywillincreasinglyderivefromETSauctionscouldalsobeasource

16

of funding to sustain innovation adoption incentives. Support for R&D is also relevant. Onepotential risk would be to fund the downstream adoption of technologies and not R&D andpatents.Thepatentingandexportfiguresinsometechnologyareasseemtosuggestthatthisishappening(e.g.,renewableenergy).

Support for eco-innovation and organizational innovations: EMS, ISO and Ecolabel.Organizationalinnovationshavebeenshowntocorrelatewithtechnologicalinnovationsandtocomplementtheachievementofenhancedenvironmentalandeconomicperformances.Article17ofBill28December2015–221statesthatEMS, ISO14001,Ecolabeland ISO50001alladdvalue to funding applications in relation to environmental themes in competitions for publicfunds. Articles 18 and 19 employ the future definition of minimum efficiency criteria incompetitionsforpublicfundsforsubcontractingandserviceoutsourcing.Together,Articles16-19addressandsustainGreenPublicprocurementstrategiesthathavealreadybeenintroducedinrecentyears.

Assessmentandcommunicationoftheecologicalfootprint.Tosustainthecompetitivenessofthe Italianeconomy in lightofthe increasingdemandforgreenproducts,anationalvoluntaryscheme for theassessmentandcommunicationof thecountry’secological footprinthasbeenestablished (Article 21 of Bill 28 December 2015 – 221). It refers to EU recommendation2013/179/UEoftheEC.Itisdefinedas'madegreeninItaly'.ThespecifictechnicalmeasuresandrulesofthisschemeshouldbedefinedbytheMinistryoftheEnvironmentwithin3monthssinceFebruary2016.

Consumptionofreusedandrecycledproducts.Voluntaryagreementsandincentivestosupportthe consumption of products made from waste (post consumption materials), recoveredmaterials, and parts of dismantled products have been established (Article 23 of Bill 28December2015–221).TheMinistryofEconomicdevelopmentcansetagreementswithpublicbodies, economic associations, private firms, etc. and provide financial incentives to supportbusinessactivitiesthatproducegoodsmadefromreusedandrecycledmaterialsanddismantledmaterials. Incentivesareprovidedtocommercialactivities thatsell recycledproductsdefinedundertheserules:UNIEN13242:2013,UNIEN12620:2013,andUNI10667-13:2013.Fundingresourcesforthe(fiscal)incentivesaredefined,asaretherecyclingstandardsunderwhichthefundingisprovided.

Measurestoincreaseseparatedcollectionandrecycling.Article32ofBill28December2015–221introducesatop-downincreaseof20%inthelocallandfilltaxforthosemunicipalitiesthatdo not comply with national targets for the separated collection of waste. This measure isinteresting because it oversees and intervenes in the centre-periphery scheme. Resource andwaste policies are implemented at regional, provincial and municipal levels under nationalumbrellas. This flexible framework has generated leaders and laggards. The norm is to try tocorrect thesituationby intervening fromthetopdown. It isalsoworthnotingthat the Italianlandfilltaxgenerated139million€ofrevenuein2014,comparedto315million€in1997.Thisdecreaseisduetolandfilldiversiontrendsandalsotoaweakincreaseofthenominaltaxrateinmostregions.

Article36-7ofBill 28December2015–221addresses support for compostingbyhouseholdsand other activities, using schemes that decrease the waste tariff. This scheme reconfirmssupport (also present in the previous legal framework) for composting as a form of wastemanagement.SomeregionsofItaly(e.g.,Veneto)areleadersintheEUintermsoftheirsharesofcompostedwaste.

17

Itisinterestingtonotethatarticle26oftheTreasury’s2016FinancialBill,whichpreventslocalauthorities from increasing local taxes (toachieve thenationalaimof limiting taxburdens), isnot applied to waste tariffs/taxes (TARI). Those may be increased at the local level tocomplementlandfilltaxesonthemanagementside;thisisdesignedtosupporttheachievementofenhancedwastemanagementschemesandnewwastepreventionprogrammes.

Wastemanagementonsmallislands.Article33ofBill28December2015–221introducesthepossibilityofchargingamaximum2.5€feetotouriststoaddresstheincreasedwastepressurescausedbytouristsandtofinanceenvironmentalrecoveryprojects.

Removalofenvironmentallyharmful subsidies.Article68ofBill28December2015–221. InlinewithEUobjectives forEurope2020,andwithOECD recommendations regardingcountry-levelenvironmentalperformance,the2013reportonItalyestablishedanewcommitteewithintheMinistryof theEnvironment thathas the supportof all research institutionsand relevantministriesandagencies.EveryyearbyJune30,thelistofsubsidiesisupdated.AreportissentbyJulyofeachyeartotheParliamentandthegovernment.

Efficiency, energy and private/public transport. 5 million € are devoted to facilitating thetransitionfrom'euro1-3'vehiclestoatleasteuro5vehicles.(art.645-62016FinancialBillbytheTreasury). Tax rebates for diesel fuel used by trucks are cancelled for vehicles below euro3classes. The tax resources areused to fund the followingwith160Million€ from2016-2020:(max 15%) new trucks used for transporting goods; railways and maritime transportinterconnections, with the aim of reducing transport through roads; (min 85%) local publictransport.

Art. 5 of Bill 28 December 2015 – 221 addresses sustainable mobility. It introduces anexperimentalnationalprogrammeofnationalsustainablemobility(home-school,home-work)incitieswithmorethan100,000inhabitants.

Renewable energy. The biomass, biogas, and sustainable bioliquids industries (Art. 1,paragraphs149-151of the Financial law),whohave ceased tobenefit from the incentivesonenergyproducedbyJanuary1,2016andwillceasebyDecember31,2016,canbenefitfromtherighttouse–upto31December2020–anincentiveonenergyproduced.Theincentiveis80%ofthatgrantedtonewplantsandofequalpowerasthatofDM6July2012.

Whitecertificates.Theseareacross-sectoralpolicyaimedatpromotingenergyefficiencyanddeliveringemissionsreductionsacrossallenergyend-usesectors.First introduced in2001andsubstituted by new decrees in 2004, the system required electricity and gas distributors toachieveaprimaryenergysavingtarget (2.9Mtoe)by2009.Thissystemhasbeenextendedto2012. Gas and electricity distributors get their own target according to their nationalmarketshare,andtheirannualenergysavingtargetisachievedthroughtheimplementationofenergysavingprojects.Target-bounddistributorscanobtaintheirowncertificatesorbuytheminthemarket (certificates can be traded bilaterally or through an organized market). 1cert=1toes.D.lgs.102/2014,whichtransposesDirective2012/27/EUinthedomesticlaw,hasredefinedtheminimumcumulativesavingstarget(25.5Mtoeoffinalenergy)tobeachievedinthe2014-2020period,stipulatingthatthemechanismofwhitecertificatesneedstoensuretheachievementof60%ofthetarget.

Kyoto fund. TheFinancial Lawof2007 introduced the so-calledKyotoFund,ofapproximately600M€.Thiswasmeantto fund(innovation)projectstoabateGHGinresponsetothe ItalianKyototargets.Financingissubjecttoaninterestrateof0.5%

18

ThefundismanagedbytheMinistryoftheEnvironmentwiththesupportoftheCassaDepositie Prestiti (Italian national promotional Institution that has supported the economy since the1850s, largely managing postal savings; www.cdp.it). In 2012 it was focused on renewableenergyprojects (200million Euro), in 2013onprojects that favour 'youth employment in thegreeneconomy'(460M€funds),andin2015,fundingwasdedicatedtotheimplementationofmeasures to improve energy efficiency in public schools (the interest rate was reduced to0.25%).

Naturalcapitalcommittee.Art.67ofBill28December2015–221establishesaCommittee,onthepremisesoftheMinistryoftheEnvironment,thatoverseesthewidespreadinvolvementofthe academic and research communities aswell local governmentbodies. Itmainly promotestheadoptionofenvironmentalaccountingsystemsbylocalgovernmentstoinformandincreasetheefficiencyandeffectivenessofpolicies.

Payment for Ecosystem Services. Art. 70 of Bill 28 December 2015 – 221 paves theway forGovernment decrees that should introduce schemes for 'payment for ecosystem andenvironmentalservices'(PSEA),ontheprinciplethatthosepaymentsarerewardsforthevaluegenerated by ecosystem services’ marketability, through licensing the management of theeconomicfunctionsprovidedbythestockofnaturalcapital.

Measures to sustain the Circular economy, Waste prevention, reuse of end of life goods,separatedcollection-RegionalBill16/2015-EmiliaRomagnaregion

Emilia Romagna is one of the first and leading regions to approve a Regional Plan thatincorporates the notion of the circular economy (1386/2013/EU). The plan is innovative andrelevantgiventheeconomicweightoftheregion,whichaccountsfor4.5millionresidentsandmore than 10% of Italian GDP. In addition, Italy’s decentralized, regionally based system isdependentongoodpracticesandpoliciesdevelopedbykeyregions.

Environmental targets. The Bill promotes recycling and waste prevention in an integratedmanner.Themaintargetstobeachievedby2020are:(a)anincreaseinseparatedcollectionto73%,(b)a25%reductioninwasteproducedonapercapitabasis.Thetargetishigherthanthatproposed by Italy in 2013 following the 2008Waste Framework Directive. It is implementedthrough incentives for virtuous municipalities that reduce urban waste per capita; (c) 70%recyclingofmaterialflows.

Economic Incentives. (a) Introduction of “polluter pays principle” waste tariffs based on theproducedquantityanddoor-to-doorsystems;(b)Incentivesforvirtuousmunicipalitiesandfirms

that properlymanage waste. The economic programme is a complement to educational and

informational activities, which are provided, among others, by centres for sustainability

education;(c)anewFundforwastepreventioniscreatedandfuelledbycomponentsofwaste

tariffs and landfill taxes,whichvarybetween9and25€per tonneacross825differentwaste

streams for hazardousmaterials). The fund is aimed (until 2019) at reducing waste tariffs in

municipalities that producewaste per capita lower than the regional average, and at funding

door-to-doorprojects.

19

EmiliaRomagna(inNortheast Italy) is the leadingregionandthefirsttopresentaCEpackagebill well before the Presentation of the EC Document in December 2015. In early 2016, theoverallpictureregardingCERegionalbills,packagesoractionsinItalyisthefollowing.AtypicalNorth-South divide emerges, with heterogeneity depending on the very decentralizedimplementationof policies forwaste andnatural resources. In theNorthwestof Italy,wearewitnessing the revision of thewastemanagement 2015-2020 plan by Piedmont18. Though nospecific reference ismade toCE strategies, emphasis is placedonwasteprevention, recoveryand recycling. The autonomous Region Valle D'Aosta does not present relevant policies. InLiguria, the Genovamunicipality and the industrial association are promoting the permanentframework on the CE, with the support of the Region19. The region also approved a wastestrategyin2015,whichincludeswastereductiontargets(-12%by2020)andrecovery(50%by2016and65%by2020). LombardyhasnotproducedspecificbillswithreferencetotheCEsofar; nevertheless, a waste strategy package was passed in June 2014 that includes: wasteproduction-relatedtariffsforatleast20%ofmunicipalitiesby2020;80%separatedcollectionofwasteby2020;materialrecoveryofatleast65%andenergyrecoveryof80%by2020.

AsfarastheNortheastof Italy isconcerned, it isworthnotingthat inDecember2015Venetoapproved an action plan for the implementation of Green Public Procurement for the period2016-18 to promote the introduction of environmental and social criteria in publicexpenditures20.TheregionFriuliVeneziaGiuliaapproved, inMarch2016,theEUCEpriorityaspartofitsfutureregionalpolicies,althoughnobillhasbeenproducedsofar.TrentinoAltoAdigehasnorelevantbillsoractionsatthemoment.

RegardingtheCentralregions,theMarcheRegion,similartoFriuliVeneziaGiulia,hasnotpassedspecific CE related bills. The regionmentioned CE in a February 2016 resolution, in which itsupportedEUCEactionsandwillincludestrategiesinfutureyears21.Umbriahasnotpresentedrelevantbillsoractionseither22.Tuscany,however,doespresentrelevantactions.OnNovember18, 2014, Tuscany approved a newplan forwaste and contaminated sites,which includes CEwithin itsprimaryaims. Themaingoals are:waste reduction targets inper capita terms,70%wasteseparatedcollection,materialrecoveryofatleast60%,increaseenergyrecoveryfrom13to20%,andreducelandfillsto10%ofurbanwastefromthecurrent42%23.Finally,Lazioisonlyshowingsomesignsofaction24.

In the South and Islands, Abruzzo has declared its intention tomove towards CE plans, eventhoughnoformalbillshavebeenpassedandthewaste2020planhasnotbeenapproved.ThenearbyMolise regionapproved, inDecember2015,awastemanagementplan that includesatarget of 50% separated collection by 2020, citing CE actions25. Campania is discussing a new

18http://www.regione.piemonte.it/ambiente/rifiuti/dwd/2015/piano/Progetto_piano_rifiuti.pdf

19http://www.liguriacircular.it/

20http://bur.regione.veneto.it/BurvServices/Pubblica/DettaglioDgr.aspx?id=314169

21http://www.ansa.it/marche/notizie/europa/2016/02/04/risoluzione-economia-circolare-in-senato_ea4fe6d7-f5f9-4f64-ae56-988e6459883c.html

22http://www.regione.umbria.it/dettaglionotizie/-/asset_publisher/lU1Y2yh4H8pu/content/%E2%80%9Cil-potere-del-limite%E2%80%9D-presidente-marini-a-convegno-milano-umbria-raccoglie-sfida-economia-circolare?read_more=true

23http://www.regione.toscana.it/-/piano-regionale-gestione-rifiuti-e-bonifica-dei-siti-inquinati

24http://www.regione.lazio.it/rl_attivitaproduttive/?vw=newsDettaglio&id=356

25http://www3.regione.molise.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/13105

20

wastemanagementplan in the regionalcouncil26,whileBasilicata isgoing toapproveawastemanagement plan by 2016. The last approvedwaste plan in Pugliawas in 2013. It containedsomereferencestotherecoveryofurbanwaste,mentioningatargetof50%by2020intermsofweight. At the moment, Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily do not seem to be taking any relevantactionstowardsCErelatedtargets.

IndustrialsymbiosisinItalianpolicyandregulations

Interest in industrial symbiosis is growing in Italy and several projects have recently been

developed. Furthermore, industrial symbiosis has been included as a strategy in several local

programmingtools.Forexample,inthewastemanagementplanoftheEmiliaRomagnaregion,

industrial symbiosis is identified as an opportunity to achieve the goals of preventing waste

production,enhancingtheregionalproductionsystemandvaluingcriticalfractionsofwasteby

means of short chain re-use. In 2014 the “Cartesio Network” wrote the "Charter for

DevelopmentofEcologicallyEquippedProductiveAreasinItaly",signedbytheEmiliaRomagna,

Liguria, Marche, Piemonte, Sardinia and Tuscany Regions. The document promotes, among

other things, "environmental improvement in theproductionareas,encouraging [...] solutions

ofindustrialsymbiosis,environmentalmanagementandresourcere-use”.InJuly2015,theLazio

Region approved the "APEAs Guidelines" for the development of Ecologically Equipped

ProductiveAreasinLaziothatinclude,amongotherrequirementsofAPEAs,theuseofindustrial

symbiosisbetweenthemembercompanies. Inthesameyear,the"NewEnergyPlanforLazio,

Energy Saving and Efficiency" identified industrial symbiosis as an instrument of change in its

development model, closely related to the objectives of economic and employment

developmentthroughthedecouplingofconsumptionandGDP.TheFriuliVeneziaGiuliaRegion,

inthepolicyframeworktosupportthedevelopmentofsectorsregulatedbytheregionallaw20

February2015n.3,includedindustrialsymbiosisprojectsamongitseligibleactivities.

More information on: http://www.enea.it/it/pubblicazioni/edizioni-enea/2015/experience-industrial-symbiosis-italy

keywords:Framework,guideline,policy,wastemanagementplan

26http://www.consiglio.regione.campania.it/portal/page?_pageid=33,10033&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&i=1_1&codice=12621

21

ReferencesAntonioli,D.,Mancinelli,S.,&Mazzanti,M.(2013).Isenvironmentalinnovationembeddedwithinhigh-performanceorganisationalchanges?Theroleofhumanresourcemanagementandcomplementarityingreenbusinessstrategies.ResearchPolicy,42(4),975-988.

Borghesi,S.,Cainelli,G.,&Mazzanti,M.(2015).Linkingemissiontradingtoenvironmentalinnovation:evidencefromtheItalianmanufacturingindustry.ResearchPolicy,44(3),669-683.

Cainelli,G.,&Mazzanti,M.(2013).Environmentalinnovationsinservices:Manufacturing–servicesintegrationandpolicytransmissions.ResearchPolicy,42(9),1595-1604.

Cainelli,G.,D’Amato,A.,&Mazzanti,M.(2015).Adoptionofwaste-reducingtechnologyinmanufacturing:Regionalfactorsandpolicyissues.ResourceandEnergyEconomics,39,53-67.

ENEA(2015).RapportoAnnualeEfficienzaEnergetica2015.http://www.enea.it/it/pubblicazioni/edizioni-enea/2015/rapporto-annuale-efficienza-energetica-2015.

FondazioneperloSviluppoSostenibile(2015).L’ItaliadelRiciclo2015,FondazioneperloSviluppoSostenibileandFISEUNIRE–UnioneNazionaleImpreseRecupero,Rome.

FrankfurtSchool-UnepCentre/Bnef(2015).GlobalTrendsinRenewableEnergyInvestment

Ghisetti,C.,&Rennings,K.(2014).Environmentalinnovationsandprofitability:Howdoesitpaytobegreen?AnempiricalanalysisontheGermanInnovationsurvey.JournalofCleanerproduction,75,106-117.

Gilli,M.,Mazzanti,M.,&Nicolli,F.(2013).Sustainabilityandcompetitivenessinevolutionaryperspectives:Environmentalinnovations,structuralchangeandeconomicdynamicsintheEU.TheJournalofSocio-Economics,45,204-215.

ISPRA(2013).Annuarioincifre–Annuariodeidatiambientali,Rapportonumero41/2013.

ISPRA(2015).IlconsumodisuoloinItalia,Rapportonumero218/2015.

Markianidou,P.(2014).Eco-InnovationObservatory-CountryProfile2014:Italy,Availableat:www.eco-innovation.eu

Mazzanti,M.,&Montini,A.(2014).WastemanagementbeyondtheItaliannorth–southdivide:spatialanalysesofgeographical,economicandinstitutionaldimensions.HandbookonWasteManagement,256.

OECD(2011).Greeninghouseholdbehaviour.Theroleofpublicpolicyhttp://www.oecd.org/environment/consumption-innovation/greening-household-behaviour-2011.htm

OECD(2013)Italy,environmentimprovingbutmoreeffortneeded,http://www.oecd.org/environment/italy-environment-improving-but-more-effort-needed.htm

OECD(2015)educationataglance2015http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/education/education-at-a-glance-2015_eag-2015-en#page1

OECD,(2013)OECDEnvironmentalPerformancereviews:Italy2013,http://www.oecd.org/env/country-reviews/italy2013.htm

22

OsservatorioInnovazioneeTecnologiaperlaGreenEconomy(2015).TecnologiaeInnovazionenellaGreenEconomyItaliana–Rapporto2015,Rome.

Ronchi,E.2015,RelazionesullostatodellagreeneconomyinItalia(2015).Rome.availableherehttp://www.statigenerali.org/cms/wpcontent/uploads/2015/11/relazione_lo_stato_della_green_economy_in_Italia.pdf

23

ANNEX:Policymeasuresaddressingthecirculareconomyandeco-innovationsinItaly

GROUPOFPOLICYMEASURES

TYPEOFPOLICYMEASURE

SPECIFICMEASURE

(national,regional)

Pleaseprovidereferencetoorbriefsummaryofspecificmeasuresaddcellsifnecessary

FOCUSOFPOLICYMEASURE

Circulareconomy

Genericfocusoneco-innovation

Resourceefficiencyimprovement

Energyefficiencyimprovement

Reductionofemissionsincl.CO2

Otherrelevantareas(e.g.,renewableenergy,etc.)

SUPP

LYSIDEFO

CUS

Equity/businesssupport

Venturecapitalfunds

- RegionalFundsexistthatinvestineco-innovationorrelatedprojects/companies(e.g.,ToscanaInnovazione)

- TheChinaDevelopmentBankSecuritieshaschosentheItalianresearchfacilityNomismatoconsultoninvestmentsinEurope.Amongotherinvestments,the"MadeinItaly"sectorswithbrands,processinnovationandtechnologyaresupposedtobetheprimarytargetsinItaly.Eco-innovationisnotanexplicittarget,butmightbenefitfromsimilarfinancing.

- ItalianminibondsforSMEs(bondscanpresentGreenfeatures)

X X X X

Publicguaranteefunds

- PublicfundfundedbytheItalianMinistryofEconomicDevelopment(http://www.insme.org/it/l2019associazione-insme#implique;http://www.fondidigaranzia.it)aremanagedthroughMediocreditoCentrale(http://www.mcc.it/)

- TheMinistryforEconomicDevelopmenthasgrantednewfundstoapublicguaranteefundwithafocusoninnovationandrenewableenergyinSMEs,especiallyinsouthernItaly.

- Additionally,regionalagenciesmanageregionalguaranteefunds,e.g.,Agency“VenetoSviluppo”hasmadeavailablefundsgrantedbytheVenetoregionforaguaranteefundavailabletoindustry.Thisfundisgenericandhasnoexplicitfocusoneco-innovation.

- TheFinancialbillof2007introducedtheso-calledKyotoFund,ofapproximately600M€.Thiswasmeanttofund(innovation)projectstoabateGHGsinresponsetoItalianKyototargets.ThefundismanagedbytheMinistryoftheEnvironmentwiththesupportofthe“CassaDepositiePrestiti”(ItaliannationalpromotionalInstitutionthathassupportedtheeconomysincethe1850s,largelymanagingpostalsavings;www.cdp.it).In2012itwastargetedatprojectsonrenewableenergy(200millionEuro),in2013atprojectsthatfavoured'youthemploymentinthegreeneconomy'(460M€funds)andin2015,fundingwasdedicatedtotheimplementationofmeasurestoimproveenergyefficiencyinpublicschools(theinterestratewas

X X

24

reducedto0.25%).- EEEFfundmanagedby“Cassadepositieprestiti”,whichisfundedbytheECandEIB,

amongothers.Itfundslocalauthorities,utilities,publictransportoperators,andESCOs.Itamountsto800M€.

SupportforR&Dinpublicsectorandindustry

R&Dfunding - PrivateandpublicR&DismainlyfundedbyRegionalfunds(e.g..,POR–FESRthatsupportindustrialresearchandexperimentaldevelopmentofSMEs)

X X

Collaborativegrants

-http://www.uniud.it/ricerca/finanziamenti/comunitari/programmi-di-cooperazione-internazionale

4.1 Noinformationavailableonrelevancetoeco-innovation

R&Dinfrastructure

- Noinformationobtained

Noinformationavailableonrelevancetoeco-innovation

Fiscalmeasures

TaxincentivesforR&Dandstart-ups

- energyefficiency-relatedtaxincentives(dl201/2011)- newfeedinpremiumforrenewableenergysourcesotherthansolarPV(DMJuly

2012)(genericforallbusinesspurposes)

X

TaxincentivesforR&Dpersonnel

- -Thismeasureisgenericandhasnoexplicitfocusoneco-innovation:http://www.professionisti24.ilsole24ore.com/art/Professionisti24/Lavoro/Dossier-Lavoro/2010/manovra_correttiva/GL_24_2010_Annicchiarico_Costa.pdf

Education,trainingandmobility

Tailoredtrainingcoursesforcompanies,entrepreneurs

- Nomeasureswithexplicitfocusoneco-innovationwereidentified

Advise/consultingforstartups,companies,entrepreneurs

- supportstartups:Lombardia,InnovationHubs,e.g.,InnovHubMilano(ChamberofCommerceMilano)

Noinformationavailableonrelevancetoeco-innovation

Placementschemesforstudents

- Spinoffs:e.g.,spinoffPolitecnico,fundedbyfund“Mecenati”

Nomeasureswithexplicitfocusoneco-innovationwereidentified,however,thesereasonablyapplytoeco-innovation

X

SupportforrecruitmentofR&Dworkers

IncentivesforR&DworkerstoreturntoItaly(specialfundsdedicatedbytheMinistryofeducationandResearcheveryyear)

Noinformationavailableonrelevancetoeco-innovation

25

Networksandpartnerships

Competencecentres,clusters,science-technologyparks

- EnvironmentalParks(e.g.,Brescia-Turin-EnvironmentalParks) X X X

Technologyplatformsandinnovationnetworks

- Technologyparks(TriesteAreaSciencePark,KilometroRossohttp://www.kilometrorosso.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=220&Itemid=182&lang=it)

- Theregionalagencyforappliedresearch,innovationandtechtransfer(noexplicitfocusoneco-innovation)http://www.venetoinnovazione.it/

- APSTI–AssociazioneParchiScientificieTecnologiciItaliani,thenationalnetworkofscientificandtechnologicalparks(PSTs);themajorityofPSTsaremembersofAPSTI(31associates);anumberofPSTshaveareasthatarefocusedoneco-innovation

X

Foresightandcommonvisionbuilding

Noinformationavailable Noinformationavailableonrelevancetoeco-innovation

Marketintelligenceandotherformsofinformationsharing

- DatabaseEcosmes(ENEA)http://www.riditt.it/temi/operatori/74

X X X X

DEMAN

DSIDE

FOCU

S

Regulationsandstandards

Regulations,targets,cap&tradeschemes

- Stringentnationalregulationswithregardtoenvironmentaltopics(airemission,wastewaterdischarge,soilprotection,hazardoussubstances,etc.)

- “CollegatoAmbiente”L.221/2015containsseveralmeasuresforresourceefficiency,eco-innovationandthecirculareconomy

- EnvironmentalActionStrategyforSustainableDevelopment(EASSD-2002(currentlyunderreview):

- EASSD’sfourbroadprioritythemes:ClimateChangeandstratosphericozone;ProtectionandsustainablevalorisationofNatureandBiodiversity;Qualityoftheenvironmentandqualityoflifeinurbanareas;Exploitationofresourcesandwastegeneration.Prioritiesaddressedinthislastsectionaretheuseofnaturalresources,production-consumptioncycles,waterresourcesandwaste.

- Common20-20-20EUtarget:Italyhastoreacharenewableenergyquotaof17%by2020.

- ItalianNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlan(2007)-approximately9.6%energysavingstargetby2016

- -whitecertificates(DMJuly2004),certifythereductionofenergyconsumptionachievedbyenergyefficiencyinvestments

- -energyperformancecertificatesforbuildings(decree59/2009)–conditionsto

X X X X X

26

improveenergyefficiencyofnewandrenovatedbuildings

Performancestandards,labelling,certification

- 705Italianmunicipalities,i.e.,almost9%ofthetotalnumber,haveadoptedcriteriarelatedtoenvironmentalsustainabilityintheirtownplanninginstruments,e.g.,energyefficiency.

- IncentivesforenvironmentalcertificationofSMEs(DecreeSVS/03/2230),e.g.,EMAS- Article17ofBill28December2015–221statesthatEMS,ISO14001,Ecolabeland

ISO50001addvaluetosubmissionsforfundinginrelationtoenvironmentalthemesinpubliccompetitivetenders.Art.18-19setGPPstandardsandcriteria.

X X

Publicprocurement

“Green“publicprocurementofgoodsandservices

- "minimumenvironmentalcriteria"for:paper,fertilizers- "minimumenvironmentalcriteria"for:textileproducts,officefurniture,public

lightingsystems;peropportunaconsultazioneèdisponibileladiaccompagnamentolegislativedecreen.24,2011,implementingEUdirective2009/33/CE,introducestherequirementtoverifyenergyefficiency,environmentalimpact,andCO2emissionsduringtheentirelifecycle.

- Article17ofBill28December2015–221statesthatEMS,ISO14001,EcolabelandISO50001addvaluetosubmissionsforfundinginrelationtoenvironmentalthemesinpubliccompetitivetenders.Art.18-19setGPPstandardsandcriteria

- anationalvoluntaryschemefortheassessmentandcommunicationoftheecologicalfootprintisset(Article21ofBill28December2015–221.ItreferstoEUrecommendation2013/179/UEoftheEC.Itisdefinedas'madegreeninItaly'

- "minimumenvironmentalcriteria"forpurchasinghttp://www.dsa.minambiente.it/gpp/page.asp?id=78

- ForumCompraVerde.it

4.2 X 4.3 X 4.4 X 4.5 X X

R&Dprocurement

- ETAP(EnvironmentalTechnologiesActionPlan)-CIPEco-innovation- InMay2010theMinistryofEconomicDevelopment,togetherwithIPI(Institutefor

IndustrialPromotion),recognisedtheopportunitytolaunchR&Dprocurementandanticipatedpilotprojectswithafocusonenvironment.

- Regionalprocurementforresearchanddevelopmentprojects

X X X X

Pre-commercialprocurement

- AframeworkisbeingpreparedtolaunchtestsforPCP.

TechnologyTransfer

Advisorysupportfortechnologyadopters

- COTECFoundation- RIDITT-ItaliangridfordisseminationofInnovationandTechnologytransferamong

firms,promotedbytheMinistryofEconomicDevelopmentandmanagedthrough(InstituteforIndustrialPromotion)(genericforallbusinesspurposes)

X

Financialorfiscalsupportfortechnologyadopters

(e.g.,grantsforpurchasingnew

- FESR- ProjectsRemake(regionLombardy)andSearchandDevelopIV,togetherwith

Innovhub,co-financemeasuresonenergyefficiencyandwastereduction

X X X

27

technology)

Supportofprivatedemand

Taxincentivesforconsumers(e.g.,forpurchasingenvironmentallyefficientproducts)

- 55%taxreduction,presentlyconfirmedbutwithpotentialdiminishedpercentagesoverthenextyears;privateorganisms(e.g.,environmentalassociationlegambiente,GAS)areusinggrouppurchasingschemestoobtainbettereconomicconditions;FourthItalianfeed-intariffforPVisconfirmed,thoughwithdecreasedcontributionovertime,between2011and2016;Greencertificates;Whitecertificates;betweenMarchandApril2011nationalincentivesforinstallationofGPL/methane-basedmotorsinprivatevehicles(fundsexhaustedinApril2011)

- Theincentivesforplantsthatproduceelectricitythroughtheuseofbiomass,biogasandliquidsaremaintainedalthoughreduced

X X X X

Taxreductionsforproductsandservices(e.g.,VATreductions)

- Contributionforpurchaseof"greener"cars.- Propertytaxreductionfornewcarswithlowemissionsinanumberofmunicipalities- Art.645-62016FinancialBillbytheTreasuryisdevotedtosustainingthetransition

from'euro1-3'vehiclestoatleasteuro5vehicles.Taxrebatesfordieselfuelusedbytrucksarecancelledbeloweuro3classes.Thetaxresourcesareusedtofund(with160Million€over2016-2020):(max15%)newtrucksusedfortransportinggoods;railwaysandmaritimetransportinterconnections,withtheaimofreducingtransportbyroads;(min85%)localpublictransport.

- Voluntaryagreementsandincentivesforsupportingtheconsumptionofproductsderivingfromwaste(postconsumptionmaterials),recoveredmaterials,andpartsofdismantledproducts(Article23ofBill28December2015–221).TheMinistryofEconomicDevelopmentcansetagreementswithpublicbodies,economicassociations,privatefirms,etc.andprovidefinancialincentives

X X X X X

Demandsubsidies(e.g.,eco-vouchers,consumersubsidies)

- Vouchersforresearchandinnovationandfinancialcontributionsforpatenting

Awarenessraisingandinformationprovision

- ForumCompraVerde(www.forumcompraverde.it),oneofthemainonlineactorswithregardtoGPPandprivatepublicprocurement.

- EcoSMEsisthemainresultoftheproject,aEuropeanprojectthathasinvolved45expertsfromtheUnitedKingdom,Germany,Italy,SpainandGreecewhohavecombinedtheirknowledgeofIPPandInformation&CommunicationTechnologies,Management&MarketingandTraininghttp://www.riditt.it/

- COTECFoundation

X X X X

AbouttheEco-InnovationObservatory(EIO)

The Eco-Innovation Observatory (EIO) is the initiative financed by the European Commission’sDirectorate-General for the Environment. The Observatory is developing an integrated informationsourceanda seriesofanalysesofeco-innovation trendsandmarkets, targetingbusinesses, innovationserviceproviders,andpolicymakersaswellasresearchersandanalysts.

VisitEIOandDGENVEco-innovationActionPlan(EcoAP)websiteandregistertogetaccesstomoreinformationandtoaccessallEIOreports,briefsanddatabases.

www.eco-innovation.euec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap