The rate of circular use of materials in Spain “is very modest and has even worsened over time, falling 3.3 percentage points from 10.4% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2022”, according to the latest ‘Essentials’ report by the BBVA Foundation and the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (IVIE).
“In order to take advantage of the potential of the circular economy, more investment is needed in R&D, eco-design and eco-innovation, which allow materials to be reused in production processes, avoiding the extraction of new raw materials, as well as the collaboration of all public and private agents, and of consumers themselves, who must also commit to this new model of production and consumption”, the report details.
Spanish recycling rates are still very low, as only 48% of all waste is recovered, compared to the EU-27 average of 58%. “Our country still has a long way to go, as resources are being wasted in a context in which raw materials are increasingly scarce and expensive,” the document warns.
In Spain, activities related to the recycling and recovery of materials account for 1.9% of GDP, a percentage below the European average (2.1%), although above the weight they represent in countries such as France or the Netherlands. In terms of employment, their weight is somewhat higher in Spain (2.3%), compared to the EU average of 2.1%. These results may come as a surprise considering our lower recycling rates.
Furthermore, the circular economy also requires “cultural changes in consumers and their consumption habits, which can drive consumption habits, which can drive the development of new business models based on the so-called collaborative economy or on the rental of certain services instead of the ownership of the good that provides them”.
