The Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO), through the Biodiversity Foundation, has published the provisional resolution of its grants to promote the circular economy in the plastics sector, within the framework of the PERTE for Circular Economy under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.
Initially endowed with €97.5 million, the call has been expanded to €151 million due to strong demand, supporting 125 projects that will mobilise over €530 million in total investment.
125 projects selected across Spain
Out of 201 applications, 125 projects have been selected, including seven collaborative initiatives involving 14 companies. 48% of the projects are led by SMEs (24.8% small and 23.3% medium-sized), while 51.8% are driven by larger firms.
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In total, 132 companies will receive grants ranging from €100,000 to €9 million per project, which must be completed by 31 October 2027.
Ministry for Ecological Transition boosts circular economy in the plastics sector with €151 million in funding
Focus areas: waste management, innovation and eco-design
The largest share of funding — €84.2 million for 45 projects — will support improvements in third-party waste management.
Another 62 projects focused on environmental protection and pollution reduction will receive €61.6 million, while 13 R&D initiatives in eco-design and five digitalisation projects will receive €3.1 million and €2.8 million, respectively.
Selected initiatives include projects aimed at reducing virgin material use, adapting packaging lines for recycled plastics, enhancing recycling processes, and developing sustainable packaging solutions for logistics and manufacturing.
Projects across 14 regions
Funded projects are distributed across 14 autonomous communities, including Andalusia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, the Basque Country, Asturias, and Murcia.
Driving a sustainable transformation
The PERTE for Circular Economy, financed by Next Generation EU funds, is expected to mobilise over €1.2 billion in total investment, with €492 million in public funding.
The initiative seeks to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste, responsible for over 80% of marine litter, according to the IPBES platform, and to promote the reuse and recycling of materials while cutting down on microplastic pollution that threatens biodiversity and human health.
“Public support is essential to accelerate the transition towards a circular, sustainable model — reducing waste, optimizing resources, and fostering innovation throughout the plastics value chain,” the Ministry emphasized.