No SME Left Behind: Testing Circular Solutions for the Electrical and Electronics Industry
Elpro Križnič is a family-owned electrical company founded in 1987 on the outskirts of Maribor, Slovenia. Like many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in central Europe, it soon grew into a success story, steadily expanding its products and services. With this growth, however, came new challenges. Above all, how to transition to more sustainable and circular practices in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.
This is where the CIRCOTRONIC project became a catalyst for change. The project brings together policymakers, scientists, and entrepreneurs from six countries to offer practical, hands-on solutions that help SMEs like Elpro Križnič develop sustainable strategies focused on circular production and resource efficiency.
A sustainable strategy is a gateway to new business opportunities.
The sustainability challenge Elpro Križnič is facing is shared by many businesses in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) manufacturing sector. This industry is one of the fastest-growing in the world – but its expansion comes with major environmental impacts. It relies heavily on raw materials, contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and generates growing amounts of e-waste. As demand for electronics continues to rise, so does the urgency to find solutions that reduce environmental harm and enable a circular transition.
CIRCOTRONIC translates this ambition into action through a comprehensive set of tailored solutions for the circular transformation of EEE manufacturing. These solutions focus on three core areas: circular product design, material recovery, and circular business models and value chains – all designed to be directly applicable by SMEs. To this end, these solutions are being tested with Elpro Križnič and around 180 other SMEs across central Europe.
Thanks to the project’s collaborative setup, including regional circular labs that share and replicate results, companies do not have to develop and prove solutions individually in each region. The project clearly shows how “cooperation is central” for accelerating the greening of the EEE sector and laying the foundation for scaling these solutions beyond the pilot regions, supporting a faster, more coordinated transition toward a circular and sustainable European economy.
Project: CIRCOTRONIC
Duration: 2023-2026
Budget: 2,38 m €
Partners: AT, DE, IT, PL, SI, SK
