Nearly 200 Spanish startups have already joined the initiative launched by TheCircularLab and are integrated in goCircular Radar, TheCircularLab’s map of circular companies. A project that brings together those projects that innovate in the circular economy, making their work in this field visible and promoting collaboration with other groups.
In addition, goCircular Radar and goCircular Pass are two of the initiatives developed by TheCircularLab, Ecoembes’ open innovation center, which was created with the aim of becoming an international benchmark in the circular economy. Indeed, more and more entrepreneurs want to be an active part of a change of model in society, moving from a linear model to a circular one, based on the three R’s of the circular economy: reduce, reuse and recycle. Thus, startups that direct their activity towards this field have been gaining prominence in recent times.
As a result, 200 startups now make up goCircular Radar, the first map of innovative companies in the circular economy created by TheCircularLab, Ecoembes’ open innovation center. With this tool, the visibility of innovative projects in circular economy is boosted, at the same time that the collaboration of startups with other companies, administrations, as well as collectives is encouraged.
On the other hand, a total of 32 European companies already have the goCircular Pass seal, a badge that recognizes the work done to achieve a circular future from the world of entrepreneurship and innovation. Of the total number of companies, 24 are Spanish and have the goCircular Pass seal, with which TheCircularLab recognizes the work done by all of them to develop new projects with great potential focused on the circular economy. The seal, which offers startups the chance to stand out in the circular economy sector, was awarded to 16 entities in 2021, the year it was launched for their innovative projects. They have been joined this year by 16 others, Bridepalla, Betanzos HB, Recyl3r, Innovaciones Plásticas del Levante, Pulexlab, FYCH Technologies, Humara, Replastic Solutions, Befc, Co2mmon, Giunko, Recycleye, Relearn, Veridis, UBQ Materials and Lixo.
“The goal of both goCircular Radar and goCircular Pass is to encourage and accredit the work done by hundreds of entrepreneurs who contribute to the progress towards a sustainable model that benefits society as a whole. Innovation, entrepreneurship and technology have become the way to build a sustainable and circular future, but we must not forget that collaboration along this path is essential to respond to the warning that the planet is shouting at us,” says Zacarías Torbado, coordinator of TheCircularLab.
From Humara, a Galician startup that has recently obtained the distinction, Laura Rodríguez states that “we are very happy to have received this seal, it is an indication that we are on the right track, recognizing the potential of our product to accelerate the transition to a circular economy on a large scale. At Humara, we are pioneers in the development of software tools that accelerate the design of recycling and waste treatment plants, a sector that is not very digitized. Being part of TheCircularLab ecosystem will help us reinforce this mission.”
To be eligible to apply for the goCircular Pass seal, startups must be part of goCircular Radar, which requires that they offer a portfolio of solutions or products that can contribute to the circular economy, have a high level of innovation in their products or business models, and have been established for less than ten years. The registration process is completely free and the information of those startups that decide to join will be available to all those companies interested in collaborating or hiring their services.
