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27 February 2020 – Room 0E

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20 YEARS OF MADE IN EUSKADI ECODESIGN

Presentation of 50 practical business case studies, with stimulation of sector clusters. Objectives:

  • Draw attention to successful use of ecodesign in the Basque Country, with support from sector clusters.
  • Create a showcase for and give recognition to Basque companies with ecodesign products.
  • Show the commitment of the Basque Ecodesign Center to SMEs in the Basque Country committed to ecodesign.
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Round table discussion 6: “Innovation and ecodesign in the Basque Country”

Innovation has a critical role in the transition to a new circular economy model. The rules for drafting the new Basque Country Science, Technology and Innovation Plan 2030 identify three priority working areas: smart industry, clean energy and personalised health, as well as niche opportunities of ecoinnovation, sustainable cities, sustainable food and cultural industries. All these areas and niches have close links with principles of the circular economy, which emerge as one of the three cross-cutting initiatives in the Plan. Therefore, the Basque Country will support innovation and research through different models of collaboration with organisations. Basque companies must become increasingly dynamic, invest more in the circular and low carbon economies and carry out analyses so that their new products improve environmental impact, performance and current costs. In this regard, the role of the Basque Government is pivotal to drive these changes through different supporting lines and programmes.

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Coffee break. Networking

Joint meeting of all attendees

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Parallel sessions

Room 0E
Room 0D

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CHEMICAL

The Basque chemical industry generates over 4,000 jobs and is above all striving to formulate innovative products to be marketed internationally. European environmental regulations for chemical substances are driving the ecodesign of the Basque industry which is integrating recycled and renewable substances, minimise packaging and even seeks to modify business models. Furthermore, it shows the market how to reduce the product environmental footprint through ecolabelling.

In collaboration with:

METAL

This sector represents 34% of Basque industrial employment. In the Basque Country, raw materials account for 58% of costs in this sector. The steel and aluminium manufactured and transformed in the Basque Country already come from scrap. This sector consumes practically the whole of metallic alloys, known as “critical materials” due to their high environmental and world scarcity. Alloy and product ecodesign, efficient productive processes and advanced scrap management are challenges to be addressed and which impact the sustainability of other sectors, such as the automotive industry, renewables or machinery.

In collaboration with:

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FURNITURE

The furniture and habitat sector employs over 5,000 people in the Basque Country who design and manufacture top-of-the-range and high-quality products. The ever-increasing environmental requirements in the public sector procurement processes all over Europe and greater citizen awareness are driving the Basque sector to ecodesign by introducing recyclable and sustainable materials, and by modularising and remanufacturing products.

In collaboration with:

AUTOMOTIVE

The Basque automotive component sector, with 300 companies and 41,000 jobs in the Basque Country, is one of the most competitive and innovative. In the Basque Country, raw materials account for 72% of costs in this sector. Efficient production processes, lightening, closed-loop material cycles, second life of components and batteries, along with new ownership models are key circular economy challenges for the automotive sector to address.

In collaboration with:

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CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Construction materials sector, with over 100 manufacturers in the Basque Country, is responding with a change of paradigm based on productivity and on sustainability to overcome the stagnation of the past. The European Commission has defined it as a new priority circular economy area. Construction tends towards a model that allows it to grow based on optimising and standardising ever more industrial processes, on the one hand, and on the other, on committing to ecodesign what ensures the recyclability of products with a growing source of value to sell them on the global market.

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MOBILITY

The transport equipment sector, not including the automotive industry, accounts for 9% of the industrial gross value added of the Basque Country. In the Basque Country, raw materials represent 59% of the costs of this sector which include the rail, maritime and aeronautics sectors. The ecodesign of lighter and sustainable materials, extending the life of products and components, along with maximising the use of infrastructures and means of transport are trends that the industry is anticipating.

In collaboration with:

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Lunch break

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Coffee - networking

Joint meeting of all attendees

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Parallel sessions

Room 0E
Room 0D

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PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

Industrial sectors that manufacture products for the citizen consumer sector are mainly focused on textiles with over 100 small companies and the manufacturing of paper products, if food, furniture and construction products are excluded. The European Commission has launched a Sustainable Textile Strategy that will greatly change the playing field, as has already been the case with plastics. Transparent and comparable communication of the environmental impact of products for the general public is one of the key priorities that the European Union is deploying to trigger green consumer demand.

MACHINERY

The machinery and equipment sector represents 11% of the industrial gross value added of the Basque Country. In the Basque Country, raw materials account for 58% of costs in this sector. A design with a life cycle approach and integrating 4.0, eco-efficient technologies, advanced maintenance, retrofitting – remanufacturing and the “product as service” are the circular economy challenges to be addressed by the machinery sector.

In collaboration with:

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FOOD

Food and beverage marketing and distribution in the Basque Country generate over 50,000 jobs. The Basque agri-food sector consumes around 6 million tons of food a year, over a third of which is local. The European Commission is committed to the bio-economy and environmental footprints in food products, which generates innovative opportunities in this sector, including the ecoefficiency of processes, reusing by-products or the new sustainable packaging.

ThumbnailJaime Zufía (AZTI)Video

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ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS

The electrical and electronic sector contributes 15% to the industrial gross value added of the Basque Country. This sector’s raw material account for 57% of its costs in the Basque Country. Renewables and electrical-electronic equipment are already subject to energy efficiency requirements to be met by design. The European Commission is developing new standards to drive the durability of those products, which implies new designs, maintenance 4.0, remanufacturing, advanced recycling and modifications to the business model.

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Closing ceremony


26-28 February


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