GreenGroup: A Visionary Leader in Circular Economy Implementation

“GreenGroup stands as a visionary leader in implementing the principles of the circular economy. Not only does GreenGroup process hundreds of thousands of tons of waste annually, but it also actively contributes to establishing an economy focused on the efficient reuse of resources, reducing pollution, and preserving the environment. Every type of recycled material, whether plastic, glass, electrical equipment, or industrial waste, is reintegrated into a sustainable circuit, reducing the need for primary resources and strengthening sustainable development,” stated Constantin Damov, President of GreenGroup.

GreenGroup’s Objectives

Environmental Protection (Pillar E)

GreenGroup invests in sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact:

• Waste transformation: Diversification of recycled PET waste categories by 20% and reduction of waste generated in the recycling process by 10%.

• Resource recirculation: Increasing the use of recirculated water in the production process from 5% to 20% and exclusively purchasing packaging from responsible sources.

• Carbon emissions reduction: Achieving carbon neutrality for CO₂ emissions associated with electricity consumption through renewable energy and reducing annual utility consumption by 3%.

• Pollution prevention: Zero pollution incidents through proactive measures and continuous monitoring.

Responsibility to the Community and Employees (Pillar S)

• Workplace safety: Zero-accident objective and 100% use of protective equipment.

• Respect for human rights: Promoting a workplace environment based on respect and equality, with no human rights violations.

Governance and Ethics (Pillar G)

• Ethical compliance: Investigation of all reports and maintaining zero cases of ethical non-compliance.

• Leadership transparency: Annual conflict of interest declarations for all top management members.

The report highlights the significant achievements of GreenGroup’s divisions and their impact on the circular economy. As indicated by the double materiality analysis conducted for the sustainability report, all of GreenGroup’s material impacts related to the circular economy are positive, including reducing the amount of unrecycled waste and supporting the development of waste recycling infrastructure.

GreenGroup Divisions and Their Impact

GreenTech

A European leader in PET recycling, with a recycling capacity of 150,000 tons of PET bottle waste, GreenTech is also one of the largest producers of reusable materials such as PET flakes, PET strapping, and rPET granules, supporting the transition to sustainable packaging (bottle-to-bottle) and textiles used in the automotive, construction, and hygiene industries. As part of GreenGroup’s expansion into Slovakia and Lithuania since 2019, GreenTech operates PET recycling plants: GreenTech Baltic and GreenTech Slovakia.

GreenGlass

Processes over 200 million post-consumer bottles annually, transforming them into glass cullet with 99.99% purity, used to manufacture new bottles, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions.

GreenWEEE

With a treatment capacity of 140,000 tons across three plants (two in Buzău and one in Câmpia Turzii), GreenWEEE recycles waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) with a 93% recovery rate, reintegrating recycled materials into the economy as new products.

Verdum

Acts as a “one-stop shop” for large companies, offering customized industrial waste management solutions directly at clients’ facilities, directing recyclable materials towards reuse and promoting a “zero waste to landfill” model.

GreenResources

A key player in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (OIREP), supporting companies in efficiently managing packaging waste.

SIGAD

Provides waste management and reporting solutions through an integrated ERP system, simplifying environmental parameter reporting and monitoring the impact of packaging. SIGAD allows environmental data management for 100,000 products and tracks packaging impact to ensure regulatory compliance and reduce clients’ ecological footprint.

Expert Cleaning

Provides cleaning and maintenance services for major industrial operators in Romania, servicing over 100 locations nationwide.

ECSO Lithuania

Recycles plastic materials and produces high-quality pellets. Through a rigorous process of sorting, washing, grinding, and melting, ECSO delivers recycled pellets for various industries, saving virgin resources and energy.

Žalvaris Lithuania

Manages hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including waste from the automotive and maintenance industries such as batteries, oils, filters, and other components. Žalvaris collects, processes, and recycles a significant portion of these materials, helping to reduce pollution and generate energy from waste. It is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

[Read the report here.]

About GreenGroup

GreenGroup is a European leader in the circular economy, with over 22 years of experience in the field. With investments exceeding €200 million and a consolidated turnover of €180 million for 2023, GreenGroup provides a comprehensive range of services, from waste collection to recycling and transforming waste into new, valuable materials for various industries.

GreenGroup companies also offer environmental services, OIREP solutions, and waste management. With a regional presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), GreenGroup consists of 11 companies located in Romania, Lithuania, and Slovakia, maintaining a leading position in the European market for PET recycling and the production of polyester fibers, PET strapping, and rPET granules.

In addition, GreenGroup plays a crucial role in recycling electrical and electronic equipment, glass waste, and industrial waste management.

Since 2016, Abris Capital Partners, one of the most prominent private equity investors in Central Europe, has been the majority shareholder of GreenGroup, further strengthening its strategic position in the European market.