EDUCA Business and Professional Association has presented the results of the report they have conducted as part of the initiative Circular economy: a reality in Valladolid. One of the most significant pieces of information that we can excerpt from this report is that more than 70 % of the companies that had been studied (specifically 71,83 %) don’t know the concept of circular economy.

That is exactly what Maribel Barrante (from the company Strategia Infinita) has explained since she was in charge of coordinating this audit, which has been developed in cooperation with the Agency for Economic Development of Valladolid City Council as part of the program #ValladolidCircular.

Maribel Barrante has pointed out that, according to this study, most companies link the circular economy to minimizing waste-generating processes, recycling or reusing. In fact, 72 % of the companies surveyed claim to carry out these processes on a regular basis. However, very few companies associate the circular economy to processes for valuing and exploiting waste to turn it into a by-product or a raw material.

Other information included in this research —which was undertaken during 6 months by EDUCA Business Association— reveals that, although more than 30 % of the analyzed businesses could change into a circular economy in the short run, most of them will not do it due to lack of information. In this sense, more than 84 % of them consider essential to train their employees on this matter. Almost all the companies studied (92,96 %) estimate that public administrations have a key role in businesses becoming “circular” from an economic point of view.

On the other hand, Ivan Díez, who was responsible for the study’s design, has highlighted that, in order to consider companies that were potentially prepared to assimilate circular economy processes in their management model, they have taken into account if the companies had valuable waste, if their directors and employees had interest in this topic, if they had already destined some budget for waste management, and if they had already performed any activities connected to recycling.

The outcome has been that 22 companies meet several aforementioned requirements to implement circular economy processes at most management stages. This figure represents 31 % of the total number of companies included in the report.

Jorge Gutiérrez, President of EDUCA Association, has also participated in the presentation of results. Gutiérrez has claimed that EDUCA will keep developing projects like this intended to achieve a sustainable business model that doesn’t deplete the Earth’s natural resources, opts for environmental protection, and generates enough economic wealth and employment to guarantee the current social model in terms of production, consumption and welfare system.

EDUCA Business Association is made up of 56 companies and professionals from León, Palencia and Valladolid that in 2017 turned over more than 400 million euros jointly and employed 355 workers. 85 % of this last figure became stable employment (permanent contracts) that remains until now.

The following economic sectors are present in this business association through its associated companies and freelancers: food, drinks and distribution; consultancy, insurance and services; automotive; commerce; communication and design; construction; IT and telecommunications; training and education; hospitality and restaurant industry; industrial sector; environment and agroforestry sector; textile industry; transport and logistics and trips.

Soon you’ll be able to download the report from the event at our website. Pictures are available now at this gallery.