Through Elcimaï Environnement, ADEME is supporting seven regions in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Established to accelerate the commitment of local governments and public intermunicipal cooperation institutions (EPCI) to the ecological transition, the “Territoire Engagé Transition Écologique” program is a support initiative comprising two complementary labels : Climate, Air, and Energy (formerly Cit’ergie) and Circular Economy.
Proposed and funded by ADEME, this program enables local governments and EPCIs to steer their ecological transition and thereby take action to enhance sustainability and attractiveness in their regions.

Obtaining these labels is also a way to showcase their commitment and progress to citizens.
In practical terms, the labels help local governments advance in :

• the production and distribution of renewable and recovered energy (ENRR), such as solar, hydro, wind, hydrogen, and biogas,
• energy consumption in buildings and associated costs, air quality, and water consumption in both the public and private sectors,
• the development of sustainable mobility, whether through active modes (cycling, walking, etc.) or public transportation,
• waste collection, reduction, and recycling,
• fiscal restraint in public procurement

the development of circular economy initiatives

The development of circular economy initiatives builds on existing waste prevention measures and ADEME’s “Zero Waste, Zero Waste” calls for projects. “These initiatives have demonstrated the importance for local authorities, beyond their regulatory responsibilities, of fully fulfilling their role as facilitators and mobilizers,” explains Blandine Aubert, ADEME Regional Director for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. “By taking a holistic view of the region and engaging in collaborative, partnership-based, and cross-sectoral work, the local government can lead all stakeholders toward a genuine shift in the economic model—from linear to circular.”

In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, eight regions committed, at the end of 2020, to launching a circular economy initiative using the framework. ADEME Bourgogne-Franche-Comté commissioned the consulting firm Elcimaï Environnement to support seven of them. These are regions with diverse profiles, representing 40 % of the region’s population, and distributed almost equally between public intermunicipal cooperation bodies (EPCI) and waste treatment associations. Already experienced in waste prevention, they have at least one waste management function, and nearly half also have an economic development function.

“To support the participating localities, we followed a method that spanned a year,” explains Léa Bontemps, Project Manager at Elcimaï Environnement. “This involved phases of familiarization and assessment, followed by the definition of strategic directions and actions, and finally the definition and clarification of the elements needed to operationalize the approach within the local authority. In reality, to adapt to each local government (its operations, its stakeholders, its level of maturity), we had to make the support flexible.” The value of third-party support was unanimously highlighted by all the local governments involved.

Elcimaï Environnement logically provided technical expertise and helped prevent schedule delays. Above all, this outside perspective helped the communities re-examine the challenges facing their region or their practices (work and communication methods).

“This continuous improvement approach focused on resource efficiency is one of the drivers of the ecological transition. We can all integrate the principles of the circular economy into our activities to conserve resources or develop new local economic activities… Mobilizing everyone and gaining their support is an exciting challenge !” confirms Isabelle Rieutort, Circular Economy Coordinator at the Nièvre Intercommunal Union for Energy, Infrastructure, and the Environment.