Promoting the circular economy not only from a greater emphasis on recycling, but with a broader perspective that incorporates the reduction, reuse of waste or the fight against garbage, are the main lines of work of the new 2024-2026 strategic plan of Ecoembes , presented by the CEO of this organization, Rosa Trigo, at the celebration of the Circularity Day event on Tuesday, February 6.
The conference has also addressed the opportunities offered by the circular economy, based on the stories and experiences of prominent Spanish professionals from different sectors, who are international references. The objective of this event, which represents the beginning of a new stage for the organization, was to share, listen to and inspire society as a whole and invite them to be an active part in the change of a linear social and economic model -based on use and throw away- to a circular one.
Circularity was present in every detail of the event, held at the Real Fábrica de Tapices Foundation. From the scenography – which provided an immersive experience to attendees by recreating a circular forest with real vegetation – to the materials used in it, which were designed to reduce waste generation as much as possible or the catering, which included second-life products. , thanks to the collaboration with Too Good to Go.
More than 150 prominent figures from the business sector, public administration and civil society attended the event in person. 2024: The new stage of Ecoembes “beyond recycling” Ecoembes, as revealed by its CEO, Rosa Trigo, during “Circularity Day”, launches a new stage in which it plans to continue promoting the circular economy, “not only from the recycling, whose scope of responsibility extends to commercial packaging, but with a broader perspective in which the reduction, reuse of waste or the fight against the abandonment of garbage in nature become priorities.
In this sense, it reiterated its commitment to working for a future without waste, making the full circularity of packaging possible. To this end, he stressed that co-responsibility and open collaboration of all social agents are essential, and he extended his hand to all attendees to jointly face the great challenges we face as a society.
During the event, Trigo announced the main lines of Ecoembes’ 2024-26 strategic plan with a 2030 vision, a roadmap to promote a new development model that will enhance the organization’s role as an agent of change in terms of the circular economy. and that it will work on three areas: more and better recycling, less garbage and new lines of work to move towards a more circular economy. Among other objectives, he highlighted that he will work hand in hand with everyone to “place Spain in 2030 in the top 5 of countries that recycle the most packaging” and that he will seek new companies to join the 15,000 that already trust the organization thanks to a proposal differential and added value for companies. Inspiring change through leaders in circularity.
The meeting, led by the political analyst and researcher in governance for the ecological transition, Cristina Monge, included the participation of influential experts in the promotion of circularity at an international level, such as the biologist Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente, who highlighted that Humanity has been on Earth for “barely 4 seconds” and in its wake has already generated a negative impact. Likewise, she talked about reversing our environmental footprint by listening to nature and imitating the examples of circularity that exist in it.
The program also included the participation of Spanish visionaries such as Eneko Atxa, with 5 Michelin stars and recognized as the most sustainable chef in 2018, who showed how he applies circularity in his restaurant Azurmendi, spoke about the importance of innovation and showed the capacity of gastronomy to raise awareness about sustainability. Rodrigo García, founder of Notpla, addressed the importance of “rethinking and reducing”, stressed the need to “put sustainability above business” and presented its edible packaging, which seeks to end single-use plastic.
Manuel Jiménez, co-founder of Nagami, and Javier Goyeneche, founder of Ecoalf, for their part, discussed how they have contributed to promoting the circular economy from two sectors that are large generators of waste – fashion and construction – relying on the ecodesign and the use of recycled material.
Musical director Víctor Gil shared the story of the Recycling Music Orchestra, from Ecoembes, a group that uses recycled instruments and is made up of children and young people in vulnerable situations who have found a second chance through music.
Circularity was present in the event beyond the presentations, and the scenography, lighting, decoration, materials used, catering and musical performance were conceived taking into account the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste .
The scenery offered an immersive experience to attendees that, upon entering, made them feel as if they were inside a forest. To do this, real vegetation was used, a central circular stage and the lighting design imitated all the light phases of a full day (from dawn to dusk), thus accompanying the presentations.
Most of the material (from the furniture to the platforms) that was used was reused and the materials made expressly for the event itself, such as the accreditations or the corporeals, were made from recycled materials. One of the great innovations is that the event featured second-life catering in which, thanks to the collaboration of Too Good to Go, we sought to reduce food waste by taking advantage of products that had not been sold in supermarkets to use in the cocktail. .
Likewise, the Ecoembes Recycling Music orchestra, which uses recycled musical instruments, performed throughout the event, providing musical accompaniment.
