Project news: OECD members visit ITENE

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation that works to build better policies for better lives. Founded in 1961, the OECD aims to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity, and well-being for all.

Transitioning to a circular economy is key to a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future and recognised by the OECD. To support this transition, the OECD is implementing its Programme on the Circular Economy in Cities and Regions. Part of this work includes developing an indicator framework for decision making and evaluation of  circular economy strategies, engaging multi-level dialogues in cities and regions to identify challenges and opportunities and favouring peer-to-peer learning, best practice and lessons from international experience.

On 27 April 2022, a delegation from the OECD led by Claire Charbit, Head of the Territorial Dialogues and Migration Unit at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities visited ITENE facilities in Valenica, Spain to learn about research projects working towards creating a circular economy. ITENE is involved in several projects, including SEALIVE and AGROMATTER which are both focused on developing new sustainable materials and ENZYCLE, MERLIN and VALQUIBIO which deal with valorisation of waste plastics.

Amparo Verdú (ITENE) presented the SEALIVE project during the visit and tour of the laboratories and pilot plants. At the end of the tour, a meeting was held with representatives of the Directorate-General for Relations with the European Union and the State (DGRUE) of the Regional Government of the Valencian Community, headed by its Director-General, Daría Terrádez Salom, and the Valencian Institute for Business Competitiveness (IVACE) – IVACE, Julia Company.

To learn more about the OEDC and their work toward the circular economy, please see oecd.org