Aspect |
Criteria |
Limit |
Exceptions |
1. Company size |
Number of employees |
Max 500 |
Larger companies allowed only if significant replication potential or very innovative cleaner technology project. If the company is owned at more than 90% by a mother company or holding, the assets of the mother company/holding should be included. |
Charter capital |
Max 5M USD |
2. Ownership |
Mainly national capital |
> 51% national capital |
No exceptions. The companies must be independent and may not be part of an international group. |
3. Status of the enterprise |
Existing enterprises |
Minimum period of operation since creation: 6 months |
No exceptions. |
4. Sector |
Industrial companies |
|
The GCL does not apply to:
1.Agriculture
2.Transport
3.Residencial sector |
5. Process change |
Process changes, not product changes |
The GCL finances sustainable production modes and not environmental products or services |
No exceptions. |
6. Investment status |
New investment |
The equipment may not have been acquired by the enterprise before submission to the GCL |
No exceptions. |
7. Equipment status |
New equipment |
Maximum 6 months usage (no second-hand or refurbished equipment) |
No exceptions. |
8. Investment type |
New production line |
Environmental improvement should be calculated in comparison with similar new investments in the absence of the GCL (Business As Usual) |
No exceptions. |
Replacement |
Environmental improvement should be calculated in comparison with the situation in the company before the investment |
Not applicable. |
9. Credit size |
Size of the credit covered by the GCL |
Max 1’000’000 USD |
Credits of bank can be larger, but max 1M USD is guaranteed and used as a basis for calculating the reimbursement |
10. Legal compliance |
Investments must go beyond legal requirements |
Investment solely aimed at complying with legal requirements are not financed by the GCL |
Exceptions only in cases where legal standards are not enforced |
11.Environmental impact |
Improvement of the selected core environmental indicator |
Min 30% improvement |
No exceptions; measurement ex-post investment |
12. Sustainable enterprise |
Compliance with overall environmental criteria |
The GCL cannot finance environmental projects in companies that have global environmental problems. Compliance with national environmental regulations is a prerequisite. |
No exceptions. |
Compliance with basic CSR criteria (salaries, working conditions) |
Compliance with social responsibility criteria |
13. Diversification |
Credits for the same technology in the same industrial sector |
A ceiling of max 1.5 MUSD worth of credits used for similar technologies |
For special cases if significant other interests |
14. Publication |
Case can be used by center for marketing and publication purposes |
The enterprise agrees with the publication of the results, always under the condition that confidentiality agreements are respected |
No exceptions. |
15. Greenhouse Gasses (“GHG”) reductions |
CO2 equivalent (tons/year) |
Maximum 3’000tCO2eq reduced per year; if more the company is referred to the CDM |
Exception cases must include justification why not feasible for the CDM. |
ADDITIONAL ASPECTS |
Profitability of investment |
Eco-efficient investment |
Targeted payback of 4-7 yrs excluding reimbursement |
End-of-pipe in combination with eco-efficient technology is OK; stand-alone end-of-pipe should be an exception and should occur only in combination with a CP assessment |
Additionality |
Investments are additional |
- |
- |
CP assessment |
CP performed |
Companies perform and implement CP |
Exceptions e.g. where no CP potential |
