AIJU’s Participation in Circular Economy Events in July

In July 2025, Joaquín Vilaplana, coordinator of the CircSyst project, represented AIJU (Technological Institute of the Children Products and Related Industries) at two key events focusing on the circular economy. These events provided AIJU with important opportunities to share insights from the CircSyst project and promote the adoption of circular economy principles across different sectors.

The first event, “Emerging Technologies to Drive the Circular Economy in Businesses”, took place on July 16, 2025, at INESCOP in Alicante. It was organized by the Circular Economy Observatory of the Province of Alicante, along with Fundeun, and gathered a diverse audience of businesses, municipalities, research centres, and startups. Among others, Collaboration with territorial stakeholders such as Alicante’s University and Alicante Provincial Council was developed.

The second event, “CCRI Community of Practice: Municipal Waste Companies”, was held on July 17, 2025, via Zoom. This online event, organized by the Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP), attracted participants from municipalities and regional authorities working on waste management and circular economy models. Within this event, joint collaboration with Alcoi Municipality was made. Both events offered Joaquín Vilaplana a platform to present CircSyst and discuss its role in promoting sustainable circular economy practices.

Objectives of the Events
The main objective of both events was to explore innovative circular economy practices and emerging technologies that can help businesses and municipalities transition towards more sustainable models. The events focused on increasing awareness of circular economy principles and fostering collaboration across different sectors to accelerate their adoption.

Main Topics Covered

• Technological Advancements for Circular Economy: Joaquín Vilaplana highlighted several technologies, including CircSyst, CIRCVET, ReMetaliza, and Precycling. These technologies are designed to promote the recycling and circularity of materials, particularly in industries such as footwear, construction, and waste management.
• Circular Economy in Municipalities: At the CCRI event, the focus was on waste management, specifically how municipalities can adopt circular economy models for managing municipal waste and biowaste. Joaquín’s presentation positioned CircSyst as an example of an integrated solution that can be adapted to various sectors.
• Synergies Between Industry and Research: The events also emphasized the importance of collaboration between private companies, research centers, and municipalities. For example, Joaquín discussed AIJU’s collaboration with TheRecirculars, a startup working on circular economy solutions, and how AIJU plans to join forces with municipalities to implement innovative circular solutions.

Key Takeaways/Highlights

• Increased Visibility for CircSyst: Both events provided a significant opportunity to showcase CircSyst as a leading project in the circular economy space, demonstrating its potential to catalyse change in waste management and biomass sectors.
• Strengthening AIJU’s Role in Circular Economy: AIJU’s active participation underscored its role as a key player in advancing circular economy technologies. Through CircSyst, AIJU continues to foster valuable partnerships and collaborate on real-world solutions.
• Future Collaboration Opportunities: Both events opened doors for future collaborations, particularly with TheRecirculars, and set the stage for continued discussions in the upcoming biomass-focused meetings.

Conclusion

The participation of Joaquín Vilaplana and AIJU in these circular economy events reinforces the CircSyst project’s commitment to driving innovation and collaboration. By showcasing CircSyst and other circular economy technologies, AIJU has contributed to raising awareness of sustainable practices and establishing strategic alliances that will help accelerate the adoption of circular models. Looking ahead, AIJU will continue to build on the momentum gained from these events, focusing on future collaborations in biomass and circular waste management.