Malta Enterprise launches scheme to help businesses reduce plastic

Retail shops and other businesses looking to reduce their use of single-use plastic can benefit from a new scheme covering half the total costs of the acquisition of machinery and dispensing containers.

The maximum grant is of €20,000, and eligible investment includes technological systems to monitor the process and others to the clean the containers, which can then be reused.

The scheme, launched by malta Enterprise, aims to 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.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development Miriam Dalli explained that businesses and consumers will be able to operate sustainably through the assistance offered by the scheme

“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,” she said.

Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia meanwhile emphasised the importance of reducing 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,” he said.

“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,” he added.

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, call Business First on 144.