The circular economy through a cluster at the 19th edition of Equiplast

Submitted by Serena Rebollo… on 20 September 2021

0917 - Foto Noticia
  • After four days of face-to-face event at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via Venue, from September 14 to 17, Equiplast closes the doors of its nineteenth edition with a good taste in the mouth
  • Recycling, new resources and raw materials or Next Generation funds were some of the star themes of the International Plastics and Rubber Meeting
  • Carlos Jiménez, Responsible for Circular Economy and Sustainable Innovation of the Packaging Cluster, explained on September 15 the keys to the circular economy carried through a cluster

 

The International Meeting of Plastics and Rubber, Equiplast, closes its doors after four intense days of exhibitions, lectures, presentations and live experiences, from September 14 to 17, in which the future of digitization, the circular economy and technology transfer.

They have highlighted novelties and digital solutions that are committed to the benefits of plastic in preserving the environment, as well as new innovative materials, with staging, guided routes, or training such as the HP Course in Additive Manufacturing. One of the most disruptive novelties was the live experience of a plastic recycling plant, a demonstration that explained the process that the material followed from when it arrived at the plant until it was recovered.

The Packaging Cluster actively participated in the event from the Future Arena stage with its presentation on the 15th entitled "The circular economy through a cluster", where Carlos Jiménez, Head of Circular Economy and Sustainable Innovation, reviewed the concept of sustainability and circularity, what is it and where does it lead us? the direct involvement in the packaging sector and the entity's response to this new paradigm.

In 2021, we find that only 8.6% of our use of resources is circular, according to Circularity Gap Report, and we have to exponentially increase this figure to alleviate the degradation of human activity in the ecosystems that they sustain life on the planet. It is vitally important to work on the circular economy in a climate key to recover natural systems, with strategies at scale, and this is achieved through collaborative innovation projects that are promoted with tools such as the new Next Generation Project Office", stated Carlos Jiménez during your speech.

Along with Carlos Jiménez, they have shared the stage during these four days, referents such as: Raül Blanco, Secretary General for Industry and SMEs of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and TourismIván Albertos, Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at BASF SpainMontserrat Lombardo, Regulatory Affairs Manager of Unilever Spain; or Miquel Nieto, Business Development Manager at Telefónica IoT & Big Data Tech. We were also able to visit companies associated with the cluster such as Comexi, the Leitat Technology Center and Eurecat, or HP.

Thanks to events like Equiplast, we observe how face-to-face fairs and large mass events begin to see the light little by little after months of total stoppage, tragic for many SMEs that worked in this market. Companies and consumers regain confidence and do not hesitate to visit spaces such as the Gran Via Venue of Fira Barcelona where Equiplast, Eurosurfas (International Meeting of Surface Treatment) and Expoquimia (International Meeting of Chemistry) were staying simultaneously, ensuring all health protocols.

In the future we will recover the long-awaited normality and we will meet again in person to share ideas and learnings. Do not miss our agenda, soon there will be news that may interest you ... https://www.packagingcluster.com/agenda/

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