A Decade of
Sustainable
Innovation
Switching to a circular economy in the Southern Mediterranean by changing the way goods and services are produced
Scroll down to explore the SwitchMed journey over the past decade, from its beginning to the present.
To learn more about the program, visit www.switchmed.eu
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In partnership with
Co-financed by
PHASE 1
How SwitchMed Started
SwitchMed was launched to support and connect stakeholders to scale-up sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in eight countries of the southern Mediterranean region.
To achieve this goal,
SwitchMed created 4 components
- Industry by UNIDO
- Green Entrepreneurship by MedWaves
- Policy by UNEP / MedWaves
- Networking Facility by MedWaves
Supporting the SMEs of the Southern Mediterranean region to become more efficient and eco-innovative
Boosting Resource Efficiency in Southern Mediterranean Industries.
Adopting Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) is the first step toward a circular economy. The UNIDO TEST methodology tackles rising energy and raw material costs by integrating RECP best practices with a strong return on investment into industry operations in the Southern.
To drive this transformation, UNIDO trained 44 local service providers, who gained hands-on experience through 125 industry demonstration pilots on the TEST methodology. This initiative helps industries use fewer resources, reduce pollution, and boost competitiveness.
Creation of Innovative
Methodologies for
Sustainable Business
Development
The Regional Action Plan on SCP is the first intergovernmental agreement in the Mediterranean basin to promote a sustainable, circular economy, encouraging environmentally friendly consumption and production in the region.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provided technical support in developing SCP National Action Plans (SCP-NAPs) and demonstration projects in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Palestine.
Test Toolkit.
Developed by UNIDO, offers a set of tools designed to help businesses gain a competitive advantage by implementing resource efficiency strategies and solutions.
Supporting the SMEs of the Southern Mediterranean region to become more efficient and eco-innovative
Launch of
The Switchers
Community
The Switchers Community is where green and circular entrepreneurs, businesses, mentors, and policymakers unite to drive innovation in sustainability.
Supporting the SMEs of the Southern Mediterranean region to become more efficient and eco-innovative
The Beginning of the SwitchMed Connect
In 2015, leading start-ups and entrepreneurs, industry agents, policy makers and financial institutions came together to build synergies and accelerate the growth of eco and social innovations, driving forward circular economies across the Mediterranean Region.
UNEP provides advisory services and technical support to the project countries in the development of their SCP-NAPs; and supports demonstration projects in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Palestine.
UNEP collaborates with project countries to advance SCP-NAPs, offering advisory services and technical support. Download them here:
Strategic roadmaps for sustainable RECP
Building on the success of the UNIDO MED TEST II component, UNIDO creates a roadmap to expand RECP in the Southern Mediterranean industrial sector.
The roadmap outlines a vision for sustainable industrial growth aimed at reducing resource consumption and pollution.
Impact measurement and reporting
Grants and innovative vouchers
Green start-ups meet investors
Business and networking opportunities
Financial and crowdfunding tools
Launch of The Switchers Fund
Initiative dedicated to providing direct funding and business support services to green, circular, and social entrepreneurs. Through a combination of private and public funding, technical assistance, and grants, eco and social innovators are supported in making a tangible impact.
Roadmap for Scaling Up
An extensive assessment was conducted to analyze the barriers and drivers of the Circular and Green Economy. It captures the views of green entrepreneurs, CSOs, BSOs, and key stakeholders on promoting green entrepreneurship and grassroots ecological and social innovation.
2nd Edition of SwitchMed Connect
The SwitchMed Connect 2016 showcased expert discussions, entrepreneurial stories and best practices focused on green and circular economy planning and implementation.
3rd Edition of SwitchMed Connect
SwitchMed Connect 2018 concluded Phase I with participation from over 400 attendees.
PHASE 1
Results
A Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) adopted by Mediterranean countries and a set of 25 SCP indicators aligned with the SDGs selected to monitor its implementation.
SCP national action plans (SCP-NAPs) developed.
Demonstration pilot projects implemented by the end of 2018.
Over 1500 national stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, industry, academia and media trained.
Industry demonstration projects on resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP).
Service providers qualified with hands on experience on resource efficient and cleaner production methodologies.
Identified RECP measures which annually save:
707 GWh of energy / 3,512,660 m2 of water / 33,623 t. of raw materials / 197,525 t. emissions of CO2 eq. / 41.7 million Euro in production costs for the 125 participating companies
National roadmaps on resource efficiency developed.
Innovative methodologies for sustainable business model developement created and transferred to local actors.
Circular start-ups incubated.
Green entrepeneurs supported to develop and test their Green Business Models.
Switchmed contributed to the creation of +250 new sustainable companies.
SwitchMed Connect organised.
It is the main gathering of SwitchMed bringing together leading start-ups and entrepeneurs, industry agents, initiatives, change agents, policy and financial institutions working on applications of productive, circular and sharing economies in the Mediterranean.
Participants from 16 different countries attended SwitchMed Connect.
Followers on social media channels of the SwitchMed programme.
CSOs and entrepeneurs from the Mediterranean members of the Switchers Community.
PHASE 2
Next Chapter Begins
SwitchMed II builds on the success of SwitchMed I, leveraging the experience and capacity gained during the first phase.
Enabling Environment
Resource-efficient and circular economy practices are promoted at regional and national levels.
Cohesive Approach
Effective coordination, networking and communication foster a unified regional strategy.
The Launch of SwitchMed Blue Economy
A new component of the SwitchMed initiative that aims to promote sustainable development in Blue Economy sectors.
It focuses on four key areas
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1. Enabling Policy Frameworks
Developing supportive policies at both national and regional levels
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2. Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Encouraging enviromentally friendly business practices within Blue Economy sectors.
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3. Value Chain Sustainability
Improving the sustainability of seafood, fish, and aquaculture industries.
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4. Stakeholder Networking
Facilitating connections and collaboration among key stakeholders in the Blue Economy.
Creation of The Switchers Toolbox
An online platform offering free access to all circular business development methodologies and tools for sustainable business growth.
Green entrepreneur / Sustainable Business
Business Support Organization
Trainer / Mentor
Financial Actor
Development of Sub-regional baseline Assesment Reports
Group into four sub-regions in Mediterranean countries, these reports provide an overview of the political, economic, and sociocultural context, along with an analysis of strengths and opportunities for green and circular businesses.
Advancing resource efficiency and circular value chains for Mediterranean industries
Building on the experience from the preceding MED TEST II project, UNIDO continued its efforts under the MED TEST III project to promote more resource-efficient and circular business models.
UNIDO undertook 74 pilot projects to demonstrate the benefits of these practices across nine different sectors in the SwitchMed region. These efforts highlighted the importance of production models that keep resources in the loop longer, reducing the environmental footprint of industries and helping local businesses adapt to global market conditions and environmental challenges.
Fourth Edition of SwitchMed Connect
SwitchMed Connect 2021 was the first edition of the second phase of SwitchMed, introducing the new activities and partners of the programme.
Demonstrating the potential for resource-efficient production practices in Morocco's fish processing value chain.
Launch of The Switchers Products
The Switchers Products platform highlights products and services from green entrepreneurs throughout the Mediterranean region. By promoting sustainable consumption, it provides visibility and market access to Mediterranean entrepreneurs and start-ups focused on sustainability, applying circular and eco-friendly production models.
The Switchers Open Eco-Innovation
Connecting Seekers and Providers of Green Business Solutions
This new platform matches companies and public institutions seeking green and circular business solutions with start-ups and entrepreneurs offering them, using an open innovation approach.
This participatory process begins with challenges set by public and private sector enablers in the Mediterranean area, aiming to innovate in green entrepreneurship and the circular economy.
SCP indicators are now available as interactive maps on MapX, an open-source tool within UNEP's World Environment Situation Room (WESR ) digital platform for online data sharing.
Blue Economy Breakthroughs
SwitchMed, in collaboration with the Blue Growth Community and BLUEfasma projects, hosted a hybrid international forum in Barcelona. The event, "Fostering Circular Blue Economy in the Mediterranean," gathered around 120 participants from across the Mediterranean to discuss and promote circular blue economy practices.
The Switchers Policy Hub:
Empowering Policymakers for Green and Circular Transition
The Switchers Policy Hub was created to empower policymakers driving the green and circular transition in the Mediterranean.
SwitchMed Connect 2022
The 2022 edition of SwitchMed Connect took place in Italy as part of Ecomondo. This in-person event attracted over 167 participants and marked a significant milestone as the first face-to-face gathering since the start of Phase II of the program.
How are countries transitioning to a Circular Economy?
SwitchMed countries are actively implementing activities, policies, and programs on SCP and Circular Economy. These efforts are coordinated by UNEP since 2015, supporting, inspiring, and directly implementing CE/SCP initiatives at the national level.
SwitchMed Connect Podcast Series
Explore the journey of sustaining circular economies in the Mediterranean with the SwitchMed Connect podcast series. Meet and connect with regional experts who share real, tangible steps and inspiring stories, turning the vision of a circular economy into reality.
Episodes
National Dialogues for a Blue Economy
Objective:
To mainstream the Blue Economy at the national level, highlighting the findings of the national Blue Economy assessment and endorsing policy recommendations.
Lebanon Blue Economy Dialogue 2004
The conference featured high-level political and technical engagements, serving as a stepping stone towards a more circular, environmentally resilient, and prosperous Blue Economy in Lebanon.
Green Entrepeneurs' Success Stories
Factsheets summarizing SwitchMed Phase II
Webinars
SwitchMed
A decade of supporting eco-innovative entrepreneurs for a better Mediterranean.
Switching2Impact
Contributing to Impact Investing in the Mediterranean.
PHASE 2
Results
Trainees
Trainees in Blue Economy
Women Trainees
Circular Startups incubated
Circular Startups incubated in Blue Economy
Industry pilots in 9 sectors.
Value chain actors engaged.
tons of CO2 that can be reduced by identified measures.
For investments in resource-efficient and circular business models.
Mediterranean countries approved the Set of 12 Regional Measures.
SCP indicators updated.
WeMed Awards Applications.
Raised from WeMed directly for technical assistance of winning projects.
Pilot projects.
Members of The Switchers Open Eco-Innovation Communit.
Open Eco-Innovation Challenges posted.
Challenges solved.
Euros raised to solve Challenges.
Entrepreneurs, SMEs and Sustainable Products hosted by The Switchers Community.
SwitchMed Connect organized.
Followers on social media channels.
Users of the SwitchMed websites.
Thank you for joining us on this journey
Resources
Switchmed Connect Podcast Series
Green Entrepeneurs' success stories
Industry
Led by
In partnership with
Co-financed by
