Cyprus Schools Turn Cooking Oil Into Biofuel in Award-Winning ‘Frying Pan’ Initiative

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 17, 2025

In a move that’s earning Cyprus international praise, schoolchildren are playing a key role in turning used cooking oil into biodiesel. The “Tiganokinisi” or “frying pan” initiative, which has been integrated into the country’s national curriculum since 2018, is revolutionizing the recycling process, one bottle of oil at a time.

With over 80,000 students engaged annually, the project has schools acting as collection hubs for used cooking oil. The oil, sourced from homes across the island, is then filtered and transformed into biodiesel, tackling a global environmental problem: the disposal of millions of liters of cooking oil that often end up clogging drains, contaminating water supplies, and causing landfill fires.

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Xenia Loizidou, chair of the AKTI Project and Research Centre, which coordinates the initiative, explained the scale of the challenge: “The logistics are huge to collect this half-litre of cooking oil from each of our houses.” Despite the challenges, the program has already managed to capture about 10% of Cyprus’s annual 2,000-tonne cooking oil waste.

The project has also proven to be an educational goldmine. Students not only contribute to recycling efforts but are also given a say in how the proceeds are spent—funding green initiatives like photovoltaic panels, water fountains, and aromatic gardens in their schools. Over €550,000 has been allocated for these projects since the program’s inception.

In 2021, U.S. energy giant Chevron stepped in to fund the mobile science laboratory that travels to schools across Cyprus, furthering the program’s reach. “We quickly realized this was a great fit for us,” said Kristian Svendsen, Chevron’s regional manager for Egypt and Cyprus. The initiative has now visited over 500 schools, spreading awareness of both recycling and renewable energy.

With its blend of environmental activism, education, and community involvement, “Tiganokinisi” has garnered attention worldwide, winning accolades from the European Commission for social innovation and from the Global Education Network Europe for excellence in global education.

This pioneering initiative shows how Cyprus is stepping up to tackle waste while teaching a generation of students that “waste” can have value—and that value can help power the future.

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European Parliament Backs New Rules To Support Small Mid-Cap Companies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

European lawmakers are setting the stage for a regulatory transformation aimed at bolstering the growth of small mid-cap enterprises across the continent. By endorsing proposals to expand regulatory exemptions, the European Parliament is creating a new category designed to bridge the gap between traditional SMEs and large multinationals.

Defining The Emerging Enterprise Segment

Under the proposed framework, companies with fewer than 1,000 employees and either up to €200 million in annual turnover or €172 million in total assets would qualify for the new category. These thresholds represent an expansion of the limits originally proposed by the European Commission. Earlier proposals set eligibility at 750 employees, €150 million in turnover and €129 million in total assets. Lawmakers adjusted the limits to better reflect companies that have outgrown the SME stage but still face constraints typical of mid-sized firms.

Targeted Relief From Regulatory Burdens

Members of the European Parliament have also proposed reviewing these thresholds every five years to ensure they remain aligned with economic conditions. The new framework seeks to address what policymakers describe as the “cliff-edge” effect. Under existing rules, companies that slightly exceed SME limits often face a sudden increase in regulatory obligations.

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By extending certain exemptions, including simplified record-keeping obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation for lower-risk data processing, lawmakers aim to reduce compliance costs for growing businesses.

Access To Capital And Market Integration

Changes to financial market regulations are also part of the initiative. The new company category would be incorporated into the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, allowing eligible firms to benefit from simplified prospectus disclosure requirements. Easier disclosure rules are expected to improve access to capital markets and help mid-sized companies raise funding more efficiently.

Environmental And Trade Policy Adjustments

Beyond financial and data privacy reforms, the proposals include streamlined measures for environmental compliance. Notably, updates to the Batteries Regulation and related due diligence requirements are scheduled to occur every five years rather than every three, reducing the compliance frequency for mid-sized players. Adjustments to the F-gases Regulation were also tabled, with registration requirements being capped at specific import or export volumes to avoid overburdening smaller market participants.

Strategic Implications And Future Negotiations

The reform package reflects recommendations outlined in the Draghi and Letta reports on European competitiveness and the future of the single market. Policymakers say the goal is to support growing businesses while preparing them to compete globally.

Following strong support from committees responsible for economic affairs, civil liberties and environmental policy, lawmakers have authorized the start of inter-institutional negotiations on the final legislative text. The initiative forms part of the EU’s broader “think small first” approach, which seeks to ensure that regulatory frameworks evolve alongside company growth and encourage a more competitive European business environment.

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