Serbia Goes Green 2026: Circular Economy and the Challenges of the Green Transition
Organized by Color Media Events, the conference “Serbia Goes Green 2026 – Green Economy” was held on June 25 at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, bringing together representatives of the diplomatic corps,. . .
Organized by Color Media Events, the conference “Serbia Goes Green 2026 – Green Economy” was held on June 25 at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, bringing together representatives of the diplomatic corps, business community, public institutions, and civil society with the aim of promoting sustainable development and the green economyNow in its eighth consecutive year, the Serbia Goes Green conference, dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable development, opened with a clip from the film The Day After Tomorrow, illustrating the consequences of climate change and mass migration caused by environmental disasters. Addressing the audience,Robert Čoban, Founder and CEO of Color Press Group,emphasized the importance of continuously bringing together key stakeholders in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development. Čoban noted that, as a small economy, Serbia cannot significantly influence global climate processes, but it can—and must—take action to improve environmental conditions within its own communities. “As a small country and economy, we certainly cannot have a major impact on global warming or planetary-scale processes. However, we can influence what happens in our immediate surroundings ensuring that we no longer see rivers covered in waste, that our cities are not among the most polluted during the winter months, and that companies manage wastewater responsibly,” Čoban stated. He added that the role of media organizations is to bring together decision-makers from government institutions, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and the business sector in order to foster dialogue on sustainable solutions. Čoban also observed that attitudes in Serbia are gradually changing for the better, with environmental protection increasingly viewed not as a cost, but as an investment in quality of life, local communities, and long-term development. The conference was officially opened byRadovan Arežina, Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government. He stressed that air pollution, waste management, and the cleanliness of waterways represent shared challenges for everyone. “Environmental problems are not happening somewhere far away—they are happening here, on our streets and in our rivers. While the state adopts strategies and international agreements, the real battle for a clean environment is fought at the local level. Municipalities and cities are the first and most important line of defense in environmental protection,” said Arežina. He emphasized that even the most advanced environmental standards and legislation will remain ineffective if local governments lack the capacity, commitment, or resources to implement them. Nenad Ivanišević,Provincial Secretary for Economy and Tourism of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, compared environmental responsibility to patriotism. “I firmly believe that anyone who throws a bottle, a piece of paper, or chewing gum onto the street does not truly love Serbia. No one can convince me otherwise, because caring for your country is demonstrated through such everyday actions,” Ivanišević said. He reminded participants that the Government of AP Vojvodina actively supports environmental protection through several secretariats and noted that Vojvodina is the only region in Serbia offering non-refundable grants of up to €30,000 for the purchase of electric vehicles. Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, addressed conference participants and highlighted the importance of EU support for Serbia’s green transition and alignment with European environmental standards. From Ecology to Economy: Circular Economy for a New Era and Sustainable DevelopmentThe panel discussion “From Ecology to Economy: Circular Economy for a New Era and Sustainable Development” featuredNenad Đurđević of Ball Corporation, Golub Marković of the Alliance for Circular Packaging, and Đorđe Popović of Trivera. The panel was moderated by Marija Tasić, ESG and sustainability expert. The participants agreed that sustainable development and the circular economy are no longer concepts of the future, but rather a business reality that will play a crucial role in maintaining the competitiveness of companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. During the discussion, speakers highlighted that waste management data in Serbia continues to reveal significant challenges. According to the figures presented, as much as 13. 6 percent of waste remains outside the formal waste management system, while the municipal waste recycling rate stands at approximately 15 percent. By comparison, around 40 percent of municipal waste is recycled across the European Union, indicating substantial room for improvement in Serbia’s waste management system and the broader implementation of circular economy principles. Nenad Đurđević emphasized that, due to new regulations being introduced by the European Union, the circular economy is no longer merely an environmental or economic issue—it is also a matter of market access. “One of the most important changes introduced by the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is that packaging will no longer be evaluated primarily on aesthetic grounds. Instead, its design will need to be adapted to ensure recyclability,” said Đurđević. He added that a new packaging classification system will be introduced and that products whose packaging fails to meet prescribed recyclability standards will not be allowed on the EU market. Under the new rules, packaging that does not achieve at least 70 percent recyclability will be ineligible for placement on the European market. Đurđević explained that these provisions will take effect after 2030, giving industry sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements. Speaking about future developments, Golub Marković stressed that the new EU regulatory framework will significantly transform the packaging industry over the next ten to fifteen years, affecting both manufacturers and the entire packaging and packaging waste management value chain.