LIFE Circular Economy and Quality of Life Sub-programme (2021-2027)

Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 15:31

EU LIFE Programme sub-programme funding circular economy projects including plastic waste recycling and resource recovery. Annual calls through 2027, Standard Action Projects (SAP) supported. Open to non-profits and organizations in EU Member States and associated countries including Denmark and Baltic region.

Source: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/circular-economy-and-quality-life_en

Funding Details

Funder

European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) / European Commission

Funding Goal

Fund projects facilitating the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy, and protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment. Priority areas include circular economy (recovery of resources from waste), water management, air quality, noise, soil and chemical management, and environmental governance.

Funding Amount

Varies by project type. Standard Action Projects (SAP) typically receive 60-75% of eligible costs co-financed by LIFE. Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) receive larger multi-year allocations. Exact amounts per call depend on annual work programmes.

Deadline

Varies by annual call — check CINEA website and EU Funding & Tenders Portal for current open calls (Rolling)

How to Apply

Proposals submitted exclusively via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (electronic only). Calls for proposals published on CINEA's website and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Check https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life-calls-proposals-2026_en for open calls.

Target Region

EU Member States primarily; some calls open to neighbouring/associated countries

Contact

CINEA website: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu; Contact: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en

Last Checked

2026-03-15 11:11

Application Checklist

Project Scope

• Must propose projects implementing innovative or best-practice solutions in circular economy or environmental management
• Projects should be at close-to-market stage — purely research projects are generally not eligible

Required Documents

• Proposals must be submitted via EU Funding & Tenders Portal (no paper submissions)
• Templates and guidelines available on the Funding & Tenders Portal per specific call

Constraints

• Co-financing required — typically 25-40% project costs must come from applicant
• Check specific annual call for eligibility, deadlines, and funding amounts

Summary

The LIFE Circular Economy and Quality of Life sub-programme (2021-2027) is managed by CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) on behalf of the European Commission. It is one of the four sub-programmes of the LIFE Programme, dedicated to environmental protection and improvement of quality of life. The thematic scope is broad, covering: circular economy and resource recovery from waste, water management, air quality, noise, soil quality, chemical management, and environmental governance. LIFE specifically promotes innovative and best-practice solutions that are ready for close-to-market conditions at industrial or commercial scale. Eligible project types are: Standard Action Projects (SAPs), which implement innovative or best-practice solutions, and Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs), which implement, monitor and evaluate EU environmental policy and law at large scale. LIFE does not fund primarily research projects — implementation of tested solutions is the focus. The geographic scope is primarily EU Member States, with some associated country participation depending on the specific call. All proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Annual calls are published on the CINEA website. Eligible applicants include NGOs, public authorities, research institutes, private companies and SMEs. There are no strict entity type restrictions for most LIFE calls. Co-financing rates are typically 60-75% for SAPs. Target beneficiaries are the environment and EU citizens through improved environmental outcomes. LIFE explicitly supports plastic waste recovery, waste reduction, and circular material flows as part of its circular economy priority.

Historical Context

The LIFE Programme is one of the EU's longest-running environmental funding mechanisms, running since 1992. The current 2021-2027 programme period includes the Circular Economy and Quality of Life sub-programme as one of four sub-programmes. Annual calls for proposals are published typically once per year.

Sources

• https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/circular-economy-and-quality-life_en

Similar Programs

← Back to list