LIFE Circular Economy and Quality of Life Programme
Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 15:32
EU funding program supporting circular economy transition through innovative and best practice solutions. Supports projects on waste recovery, water, air, noise, soil and chemical management. Provides action grants for Standard Action Projects and Strategic Integrated Projects with deadlines on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Source: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life/circular-economy-and-quality-life_en
Funding Details
- Funder
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
- Funding Goal
- Support the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy; protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment through direct interventions or policy integration. Co-finances projects in circular economy, resource recovery from waste, water, air, noise, soil and chemical management, and environmental governance.
- Funding Amount
- Amounts vary per call; published annually on the EU Funding and Tenders portal. 2026 calls to be published 21 April 2026.
- Deadline
- 2026-04-21 (Fixed)
- How to Apply
- Proposals submitted exclusively via the EU Funding and Tenders portal. 2026 calls published 21 April 2026 and presented at EU LIFE Info Days 28-30 April 2026. Templates and guidelines available on the portal.
- Target Region
- European Union member states and associated countries
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-15 11:10
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The LIFE Circular Economy and Quality of Life sub-programme is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and forms part of the broader LIFE Programme for 2021-2027. Its overarching objective is to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient and climate-resilient European economy, while simultaneously protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment. Thematically, the sub-programme covers a wide range of environmental priorities including circular economy (especially recovery of resources from waste), water management, air quality, noise pollution, soil remediation, chemical management, and environmental governance. Projects are expected to implement innovative and best practice solutions in these areas. Two primary project types are funded: Standard Action Projects (SAPs), which implement innovative or best practice solutions at field level, and Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs), which support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU environmental policy and law at large scale. Close-to-market and industrial/commercial scale solutions are especially encouraged. Eligibility extends to legal entities from EU member states and associated countries. No specific applicant type restriction is named in the programme description; both public authorities, NGOs, research institutes, and private companies have historically been eligible. Partnership is not always required but is encouraged for strategic projects. Geographically, the programme covers the entire European Union and associated countries. The 2026 calls will be published on 21 April 2026 on the EU Funding and Tenders portal and will be presented at the EU LIFE Info Days on 28-30 April 2026. Specific budget allocations per topic will be announced with the calls. Applications are submitted exclusively via the EU Funding and Tenders portal. The legislation, rules for participation, proposal templates, and evaluation guidelines are all available on the portal.
Historical Context
LIFE is a long-running EU programme with annual call cycles. The 2021-2027 programming period includes the Circular Economy and Quality of Life sub-programme as one of four sub-programmes. Calls are published annually.
Sources
- https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life/circular-economy-and-quality-life_en
- https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life-calls-proposals-2026_en