Tecnun and Provincial Council promote the Plastics Innovation Pole to strengthen the Economics Circular in Gipuzkoa

Tecnunthe School of Engineering of the University of Navarra, and the department for Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa have signed a partnership agreement. This agreement, signed by the Deputy for Sustainability, José Ignacio Asensio, and the director of Tecnun, Raúl Antón, has as its goal aim to promote research activities for the development of the Gipuzkoa Plastics Innovation Pole (PIP-GIPUZKOA). To this end, the department for Sustainability will allocate a total of 40,000 euros.

The main axes of agreement are to carry out a diagnosis of the current status , analyzing the status of the industrial companies of the plastic sector in Gipuzkoa, identifying the typology of companies, the types of plastics used and recycled, as well as the management of plastic waste; to carry out a assessment of the recycling capacity, identifying the current plastic waste managers and evaluating the treatments they carry out, as well as identifying the existing needs in the management of plastic; and finally, to develop a study of the regulatory impact, by analyzing the influence of the plastic tax and other regulations on the transformation and management of plastic waste in the sector.

In this regard, the Deputy for Sustainability, José Ignacio Asensio, pointed out that "this partnership with Tecnun is essential to develop the green, circular and decarbonized industries that we need for promote a green and competitive Gipuzkoa. Our commitment to circular Economics and resource-efficient management is core topic to ensure sustainable and social growth, creating new quality jobs. This agreement will allow us to diagnose and improve the recycling capacity in the territory and adapt to current regulations, ensuring a more sustainable future for our companies and citizens".

For his part, the director of Tecnun, Raúl Antón, pointed out that the University will study the production chain, the use and recycling of plastic materials in Gipuzkoa with the goal to have an "impact" on social welfare. "We will work to help the Administration and producers in adopting the best decisions and strategies in order to be more efficient and sustainable".

This agreement is a continuation of the research carried out in 2023 by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and Tecnun, which focused on the value chain of plastic packaging from a circular perspective. In the present exercise, the aim is to expand the knowledge on the management of post-industrial plastic.

The Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, in line with its Integral Urban Waste Plan 2019-2030, continues its commitment to the prevention, preparation for reuse and recovery of waste, signing partnership agreements with universities and centers of research. These efforts are framed within the principle of sustainable life cycle and Economics circular of resources.

For its part, the School of Engineering of the University of Navarra, Tecnun, reaffirms its commitment to Economics circular and environmental sustainability, promoting research that facilitates the transition of companies towards a model of Economics circular. It should be noted that the research will be held at the framework of group of research "Sustainable Improvement" of Tecnun, led by professors Carmen Jaca, Marta Ormazábal and doctoral student Laura Ramírez.