The circular economy is a model of economic development that conserves and regenerates natural resources and energy, prolongs the use of materials and products, and reduces waste. Over the past 50 years, global resource consumption has quadrupled, accompanied by an unsustainable increase in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. Currently, less than 7.2% of the global economy is based on circular principles, which will become essential for a sustainable economy in the future.

To encourage and promote the circular economy in the local context, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNDP are jointly implementing the project “Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Local Communities by Applying the Principles of the Circular Economy in the Republic of Serbia – Circular Communities in Serbia,” with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), running from March 2022 to March 2027.

The goal of the project is to stimulate the development and support the implementation of circular initiatives, business models, and products of public and private enterprises to reduce the carbon footprint of local communities in Serbia.

As part of this project, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and UNDP are announcing a PUBLIC CALL FOR SUPPORT IN THE OBTAINING OF THE ECO LABEL FOR TOURIST ACCOMMODATION SERVICES.

This call is intended for companies, other legal entities, and entrepreneurs engaged in hospitality activities in accommodation facilities located in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia and registered in the e-Tourist system, aiming to apply the principles and values of the circular economy in practice.

The goal of this call is to support sustainable rural tourism by improving the capacity of accommodation facilities in rural areas to operate in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the circular economy, confirmed through obtaining the Eco Label. The Eco Label of the Republic of Serbia is an environmental label and a voluntary instrument. It is a license issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection based on multiple criteria, which authorizes the use of an environmental label for a product or service, confirming its overall environmental friendliness within a specific product or service category. The label is based on life cycle assessment. Labels of this type are defined by the SRPS ISO 14024 standard.
The Eco Label will help hospitality operators in rural accommodation facilities ensure that their clients recognize and choose the most environmentally friendly options for vacations in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia.

Through this Public Call, UNDP supports the Ministry of Environmental Protection in its regular work on issuing Eco-labels for tourist accommodation services through two types of financial incentives, in accordance with the Rulebook on the detailed conditions, criteria, and procedures for obtaining the right to use the eco-label, its elements, appearance, and methods of use for products and services (“Official Gazette of RS,” No. 49/2016) (hereinafter referred to as the: Rulebook).

1. For the first three issued Decisions on awarding the Eco-label to tourist accommodations, based on complete documentation, UNDP will award three (3) prizes in equipment, with a total value of $23,000.
2. Additionally, for the first ten applicants for the Eco-label, UNDP will cover the costs of the expert field visit by Commission members and the costs of report preparation. The only financial obligation of the applicants is to pay an administrative fee of 26,030.00 RSD.

All interested parties engaged in hospitality activities in rural areas are invited to submit a Request for obtaining the Eco-label to the Ministry of Environmental Protection in accordance with Article 7 of the Rulebook (see Annex 1 of the Rulebook).

The Request for obtaining the Eco-label includes:

1. information about the applicant;
2. information about the type of rural tourist accommodation for which the Eco-label is requested, along with data indicating compliance with the conditions for granting the right to use the Eco-label.

The following evidence must be submitted with the request:

1. an excerpt from the relevant registry;
2. a description of the rural tourist accommodation and a description of the improvements achieved compared to similar accommodations from other providers or its previous services of this type;
3. a document on the results of testing, measuring, and analysis confirming compliance with the prescribed criteria;
4. parts of project documentation that may serve as evidence;
5. other documentation that may be relevant for determining compliance with the prescribed conditions (according to SRPS ISO 9001, SRPS ISO 14001, EMAS, SRPS ISO 50001, CE marking, etc.);
6. proof of payment of the administrative fee.

Tariff Number 190: For the request for obtaining the eco-label, 26,030.00 dinars.

Awards will be granted to the recipients of the first three Eco-labels after the Ministry of Environmental Protection issues the decision granting the right to use the Eco-label.

Award will be given to entities engaged in hospitality activities in accommodation facilities located in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia. These awards will consist of equipment that contributes to the eco-friendly functioning of accommodation facilities, tailored to the individual needs of each awarded user, in the following amounts:

– $10,000 USD for the first awarded Eco-label,

– $8,000 USD for the second awarded Eco-label, and

– $5,000 USD for the third awarded Eco-label.

Only one award may be granted per application.

Awards are granted exclusively in the form of goods, specifically equipment that contributes to the sustainable operation of accommodation facilities, in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.

For the first ten applicants for the Eco-label, UNDP will cover the costs of the field visit by Commission members and the report preparation costs. The only financial obligation of applicants is to pay an administrative fee of 26,030.00 RSD.

This public call will remain open until the end of 2024 or until the funds are exhausted after ten (10) applications and three (3) Eco-label decisions are issued.

The criteria for awarding the Eco-label for tourist accommodation services are defined in Annex 16 of the Rulebook.

The criteria for awarding the Eco-label for tourist accommodation services aim to limit the main environmental impacts arising from the three phases of the service life cycle – procurement, service provision, and waste.

The criteria specifically aim to:

1) limit energy consumption,

2) limit water consumption,

3) reduce waste generation,

4) promote the use of renewable resources and substances that are less harmful to the environment,

5) promote communication and education regarding environmental protection.

Before granting approval for the Eco-label, the competent authority conducts an on-site inspection. During the period for which the right to use the Eco-label is granted, the competent authority monitors compliance with the criteria.

The product group “tourist accommodation services” includes the provision of paid lodging in appropriately equipped rooms that contain at least a bed, offered as a primary service to tourists, travelers, and guests.

Accommodation services may include food services, recreational and leisure activities, and/or access to green spaces.

Food services include breakfast, recreational/leisure facilities such as saunas and swimming pools, and other such amenities located within the tourist accommodation premises. Green spaces include parks and gardens accessible to guests.

For more information about the CRITERIA for awarding the Eco-label for tourist accommodation services, refer to the document “Criteria for Awarding the Eco-label for Tourist Accommodation Services” or Annex 16 of the Rulebook.

For more information, you can contact the Standards and Cleaner Production Group, led by:

Rade Ostojić, rade.ostojic@eko.gov.rs