The workshops of the Ecoindustry project (which is carried out in collaboration between the Town Councils of Viladecans, Gavà and El Prat, and which aims to promote circular economy models) took place on the 6th and 13th February at the Business Support Center in Gavà, with the participation of almost twenty companies and entities interested in incorporating sustainability and circular economy criteria in their organizations and exploring the transition towards new economic models circular
These two workshops were focused on working with companies and entities on specific projects for each company. So, the first of the workshops was held so that companies could learn about various inspiring circular economy practices and could define, at the end of it, the goal to work on individually.
The second workshop focused on developing the objective set by each company and entity using the Business Model Canvas business design tool adapted to the circular economy and designed jointly by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and IDEO. Through this activity, the corresponding action plan was defined for each participant, specifying the next steps to be taken to achieve the objective.
Despite working individually with the participating companies and entities, they were grouped into 4 areas of work, identified during the first phase of the project and which served to work on the projects more efficiently and effectively.
The activities carried out in each of the groups were the following:
Product + sustainable
Focused on product design through the choice of healthy materials and with a positive impact at an economic, social and environmental level. The session was introduced and conducted using the methodology Cradle to Cradle as a design and verification tool for the circular economy.
Waste = nutrient
This axis was focused on exploring and finding cases of industrial symbiosis between the companies participating in the project or external collaborators. Guided by the principles of Cradle to Cradle and the circular economy, practical cases were presented to understand how to recycle materials in the most optimal way, as well as see the different strategies existing
Packaging and logistics
The large amount of plastic that enters the oceans every year keeps increasing and there are not a few companies and organizations working to eradicate this problem. Starting with the roadmap defined a New Plastics Economy report, has worked to meet the challenges posed by companies, and to apply innovation, design and infrastructure strategies in packaging and logistics.
New business models
Work was done on the conceptualization of an office park under the criteria of the circular economy through inspiring cases such as Park 2020 of Amsterdam or the new corporate headquarters of ABN AMRO. Participating companies explored what their role would be as a company offering circular products and services in the park.
