Businesses can benefit from up to €20,000 to reduce the use of plastic

A new scheme by Malta Enterprise will allow businesses to benefit from up to €20,000 to reduce the use of plastic

Malta Enterprise has launched a scheme to support retail shops and businesses who want to reduce single-use-plastics in their operations by acquiring machinery and dispensing containers.

This scheme was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia and Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli. This new scheme will support businesses in buying machinery to store products in bulk and other reusable containers for clients. Such practices are already used for products such as liquid detergents, cereals and nuts.

The scheme will cover 50% of the total costs, with a maximum grant of €20,000. The eligible investment will include technological system to monitor the process and others to the clean the containers, which can then be reused.

Minister Miriam Dalli explained that businesses and consumers will be able to operate sustainably. “We can live sustainably, with less impact on the environment. Through tangible action such as this initiative, we can deliver change. Sustainability should become a natural process and we will be supporting businesses through this change,” said Minister Dalli.

Minister Farrugia emphasised on the importance to reduce the consumption of plastic. “We are currently in a period of transition, during which we are offering assistance as a response to our policy to drastically decrease the consumption of single-use-plastics. Single-use-plastics pollute the environment for decades and even centuries, and also have negative impacts on economic sectors such as tourism. It is important that this type of activity becomes a crucial part of our economy, and the norm in services we make use of everyday,” said Minister Aaron Farrugia.

Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia encouraged businesses to benefit from this scheme. “Businesses which are interested to participate in this scheme are encouraged to call Business First on 144 for guidance on what funds participants will be eligible for. As Malta Enterprise we believe that this initiative will bring about culture change—to pollute less and to buy responsibly and sustainably.”

Applications are available on the Malta Enterprise website until the end of November. For further assistance, calll Business First on 144.