LIFE among the olives: good practice in improving environmental performance in the olive oil sector

2010 - 58 pages

The EU is a global leader in olive production, accounting for almost 70% of total world output. The olive sector is particularly important in southern countries, where it represents a significant share of the agricultural economy. But the economic benefits of olive production come at a cost. Olive farming has become more intensive in recent decades and olive processing now produces significant and growing volumes of waste. This brochure examines how the LIFE programme is helping both olive growers and olive processors to improve their environmental performance, highlighting good practices and approaches emerging from LIFE projects that could be adopted more widely within the sector.

Getting more from less: LIFE and sustainable production in the EU

2009 - 40 pages

The LIFE programme is one of several funding mechanisms driving European Union efforts to develop more sustainable industrial practices. This LIFE Focus publication aims to showcase how LIFE funding has helped to reduce the environmental footprint of production processes in five of Europe’s main industrial sectors: Machinery & equipment; Chemicals & plastic; Metal & non-metallic minerals manufacturing; Food & Beverage; and Wood, pulp, paper & printing. The brochure features successful LIFE initiatives supporting companies that have taken proactive measures to strengthen their environmental performance. The results of these projects can help to reinforce the EU’s action plans on sustainable consumption and production and on sustainable industrial policy.

Download: LIFE and sustainable production in the EU
(~12 MB)

Breathing LIFE into greener businesses: Demonstrating innovative approaches to improving the environmental performance of European businesses

2008 - 60 pages

Europe’s businesses have an important role to play in ensuring a sustainable future for the EU's environment and the economy. This LIFE-Focus brochure showcases successful LIFE initiatives supporting companies that have taken proactive measures to strengthen their environmental performance. It thereby reinforces the EU's policy perspective that recognises the fact that eco-innovation can be good for business and good for the environment at the same time.

Download: Breathing LIFE into greener businesses
(~7.4 MB)

Industrial pollution, European solutions: Clean technologies

2004 - 32 pages

This brochure illustrates the support of LIFE to the development of clean technologies, particularly under the framework of the Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC Directive) in industrial plants. Published in English and French.

Download: Industrial pollution, European solutions
(~1.72 MB)