On 2 July 2026, the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (CREC) participated in the 5th International Climate Action Congress (CIACC2026), a leading forum for discussing the major challenges of sustainability, decarbonisation and the transformation of industrial production models.
CREC attended the congress from its opening session, taking part in the various presentations and panel discussions held throughout the day. This provided an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the latest trends, initiatives and challenges related to climate action, while also strengthening connections with professionals, companies, research centres and institutions working in this field.
As part of the congress programme, CREC’s Cluster Manager, Carmen Lopez-Quintana, took part in the fifth session, dedicated to the availability and circularity of critical raw materials, a key topic for strengthening the competitiveness of European industry and advancing towards a more resilient economy with reduced dependence on external resources.
The roundtable, moderated by Jordi Bruno, brought together representatives from the research community, academia and industry to discuss the main challenges associated with critical raw materials and explore the opportunities that the circular economy offers to secure their supply.
During her intervention, Carmen Lopez-Quintana highlighted the strategic role of the waste management sector in the recovery and valorisation of critical raw materials. She stressed that circularity must become a cornerstone of industrial policy, recognising the waste management sector as an essential contributor to strengthening strategic autonomy, reducing dependence on imported resources and fostering a more competitive and sustainable industry.
The session also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between public administrations, research centres, universities and businesses to accelerate the transition towards more circular production and consumption models that make better use of available resources while addressing the environmental and economic challenges of the coming years.
CREC greatly appreciated the opportunity to share this discussion with Maria Salamero, Vanessa Tabernero Magro, María José Jurado, Virginia Rodríguez and Miquel Rovira, as well as to exchange knowledge and experiences with professionals committed to advancing the circular economy.
The day concluded with an institutional dinner, providing an informal setting for networking among participants. This gathering offered an excellent opportunity to establish new professional contacts, strengthen existing relationships with stakeholders from across the sector, and explore potential avenues for future collaboration on sustainability, innovation and circular economy initiatives.
Finally, we would like to thank the Fundación Privada Empresa & Clima, the Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER) and the Universidad Europea del Atlántico for organising the fifth edition of the congress, which continues to establish itself as a leading platform for dialogue and collaboration on climate action.
CREC’s participation in forums such as CIACC2026 reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring that the voice of the waste management sector is represented in the key discussions shaping the future of the circular economy, sustainable resource management and industrial competitiveness.
