This recognition certifies the quality and level of professionalization of the cluster’s management, as well as its commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in the services it provides to its members.

A European recognition of cluster management

The Bronze label is awarded following a thorough European benchmarking process that assesses the cluster’s performance according to internationally standardized criteria. This process evaluates key aspects such as:

• structure and governance
• strategy and funding
• activities and services
• impact and recognition of the cluster

This benchmarking system is widely recognized across Europe and has been applied to more than 1,200 cluster organizations since 2008.

A step forward towards excellence

Achieving the Bronze label places the Catalonia Waste Cluster on the path toward excellence in cluster management, recognizing a solid foundation and identifying opportunities for further improvement.

The benchmarking report particularly highlights:

• a well-established structure and strong governance
• a clearly defined strategy aligned with sector challenges
• significant activity in sector dynamization and service provision

At the same time, it also identifies areas for improvement that serve as a roadmap, on which the cluster team has already started working to further strengthen CREC’s impact, such as the development of business services, internationalization, and the promotion of entrepreneurship.

Commitment to the sector and the territory

This recognition underscores the Cluster’s role as a key agent in transforming the waste sector, promoting innovation, competitiveness, and collaboration among companies, knowledge centers, and public administration.

It also reinforces the cluster’s positioning within the European ecosystem, facilitating new opportunities for international collaboration and access to European initiatives and projects.

At CREC, we will continue working every day to give visibility to the companies that are part of our ecosystem’s value chain and to enhance the competitiveness of the sector in Catalonia.

L'entrada The Catalonia Waste Cluster obtains the European ESCA Bronze Excellence Label ha aparegut primer a CREC.

• On February 12, an Intercluster Conference will be held at Barcelona Circular to move forward in defining business models and collaborative projects and to present the first results.

Barcelona, January 26, 2025 – The SINTEC project – Intersectoral Synergies for the Circular Economy – is making steady progress in building new models of collaboration between industrial sectors to address one of today’s major environmental challenges: the circularity of technical textile waste with high polymer content. The initiative is jointly promoted by the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (CREC), the Advanced Materials Cluster of Catalonia (MAV Cluster), Tèxtils.CAT and the Packaging Cluster, and is part of the Grants for Projects Promoting the Circular Economy of the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC).

SINTEC aims to study and activate new pathways for the valorization and reuse of technical textile waste, especially materials that are difficult to recycle, for their potential reintroduction as new materials in the packaging sector and other industries. The initiative is based on an innovative approach grounded in industrial symbiosis and intercluster cooperation, with the aim of generating positive environmental, economic and social impact in Catalonia.

A collaborative work roadmap

The project began in May last year and will run until April 2026. It is structured around a series of workshops and co-creation sessions combining expert knowledge, business experience and hands-on collaboration among companies from different sectors.

The first session took place on May 15, 2025, at the ALBA Synchrotron and served to present the project and identify the main shared challenges, needs and opportunities among more than 80 representatives from the four participating clusters. Based on this initial diagnosis, priority lines of work were defined, linked to waste management, polymer material recycling and the development of new circular business models.

Intercluster Conference in Terrassa: from identifying challenges to first solutions

The project moved forward with the Intercluster Conference held on December 11, 2025, at the headquarters of Tèxtils.CAT – CECOT (Terrassa). The meeting brought together companies, technology centers and key stakeholders from the textile, packaging, advanced materials and waste management sectors to explore potential cross-sector synergies.

The session included a detailed presentation of the conceptual and operational framework of the SINTEC project, highlighting the need to give a second life to technical textile waste and explore its integration into new industrial applications. This was followed by a highly participatory co-creation session, where attendees worked in groups to address key issues such as the types of polymer waste available, the technical and economic challenges of valorization, the possibilities for incorporating this waste into new materials, and the identification of technological needs, R&D&I opportunities and business partnerships.

This dynamic approach made it possible to identify real connection points between companies from different sectors, as well as opportunities to develop prototypes and pilot projects in subsequent phases.

Upcoming sessions and project completion

The SINTEC project will continue with two additional sessions. The next one will take place on February 12, with a new Intercluster Conference at Barcelona Circular (BAC), aimed at advancing the definition of business models and collaborative projects based on the ideas identified during the first workshop. This session will focus on the practical implementation of the synergies detected and the presentation of the first results.

Finally, the project will conclude with a final event on April 29, 2026, where the study’s conclusions, the identified industrial symbiosis opportunities, and a roadmap for intercluster collaboration in the circular economy will be presented. The goal is for this work to serve as a foundation for launching new collaborative projects and future funded initiatives in the field of the circular economy.

A step forward toward a more circular and collaborative economy

With SINTEC, the four promoting clusters strengthen their commitment to collaborative innovation as a key tool to address industrial sustainability challenges. The project positions itself as a meeting and co-creation space among strategic sectors in Catalonia, with strong replicability potential and the ambition to generate real impact in the transition toward a more circular, competitive and resilient economy.

L'entrada The SINTEC project promotes intersectoral collaboration to advance towards a circular economy in textile materials and packaging ha aparegut primer a CREC.

The SINTEC project is driven by these four clusters and its main objective is to analyse the circularity of waste from the technical textiles industry, especially those with a high polymer content, in order to facilitate their reuse in new materials for the packaging sector. These wastes pose a growing environmental impact due to the complexity of their recycling, the presence of toxic substances, and low reuse rates. In response to this challenge, SINTEC adopts an innovative approach based on industrial symbiosis and intersectoral cooperation.

During the Intercluster Conference, representatives from companies and organisations across the different clusters took part in a co-creation dynamic, sharing knowledge and experiences to identify joint opportunities for circular innovation. The session explored the potential of polymer-based technical textile waste as a resource for the development of new materials for the packaging sector, identifying challenges, synergies, and possible lines of collaboration between sectors.

This event aligns with the specific objectives of the SINTEC project, which include identifying opportunities for industrial symbiosis, designing specific and collaborative actions between clusters, increasing knowledge of the circular economy among their members, and identifying new circular business models.

From CREC, we would like to thank all participants for their commitment to continuing to collaboratively build innovative solutions towards a more circular economy.

Project supported by the Catalan Waste Agency and ACCIÓ.

L'entrada The SINTEC Intercluster Conference fosters new synergies for the circular economy. ha aparegut primer a CREC.

During our participation, the CREC delegation was invited by the organizers to the first-ever gala dinner in the history of the fair, “The Green Leaders Gala,” where we had the honor of being the only national representatives. This exclusive event brought together international leaders from the environmental sector and served to strengthen institutional ties and establish new strategic connections with key stakeholders across Europe.

As part of the visit, the group also participated in a thematic tour, “PLASTIC SECOND LIFE,” focused on new solutions for advanced recycling, remanufacturing, and circularity models applied to plastics. This activity allowed us to see firsthand projects that can inspire and accelerate innovation within our business ecosystem.

The CREC delegation also met with representatives of the Catalonia Bioenergy Cluster, reinforcing collaboration between Catalan ecosystems abroad and identifying synergies in areas such as energy recovery, biomass, and decarbonization.

The trip was a unique opportunity for learning and exchange: through both stand visits and participation in technical talks, we were able to capture trends, identify business opportunities, and deepen circularity strategies that can benefit the cluster’s member companies. In addition, we established new relationships with the Ecomondo organizers with the aim of consolidating CREC’s presence in future editions.

Finally, we want to express our gratitude to the Camera Commercio Italiana per la Spagna, which made this visit possible and provided us with support at every step.

And thanks also to the seven companies that accompanied us and were part of this delegation: Datambient, Eurecat, Alier, Transambiental, Ecompost, Compost Segrià i Hercal.

L'entrada CREC strengthens its international presence with its participation in Ecomondo 2025 and the debut of “The Green Leaders Gala” as the sole national representative ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Organised by the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (CREC), this new event represents a step forward for the cluster with the creation of the nowWaste brand, which frames its Strategic Immersion and aims to establish itself as the sector’s annual flagship event.

The event took place on 29 and 30 October in Montbrió del Camp and was sponsored by Alier, Molins, Recupera —from the Catalan Recovery Guild— and RETEMA.

L'entrada 1st edition of nowWaste, the new brand that frames CREC’s Strategic Immersion to boost innovation and circularity in the waste sector. ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Today, we introduce…

• Name and role in the company
  I’m Àngela Mancho, CEO and Co-founder of Phoenix Foods.

• Brief description of the company and its activity

We are a startup that uses living organisms to transform organic waste into high-value-added ingredients such as protein for animal feed and natural fertilizers. Our model is based on the efficient bioconversion of food waste, contributing to a truly circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of waste management.

• Current challenges or needs

We are currently in a growth and scaling phase, with the main challenge being to find strategic partnerships for the supply of organic waste.

• Motivation to join the cluster and types of synergies sought

We joined CREC because we believe in the power of collaboration and synergies within the sector. We’re interested in connecting with other players in the value chain (from waste managers to research centers or tech companies) with whom we can share challenges, generate value, and accelerate the implementation of a more sustainable and circular model.

Thank you for being part of CREC!

L'entrada We are CREC: Today we introduce… PHOENIX FOODS ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Today we introduce…

What’s your name and your role in the company?
My name is Xavier Puig, and I am a Consultant-Director at Zirkel. My role involves, on the one hand, identifying companies’ needs in the field of sustainability and the circular economy and, together with the consulting team, developing solutions tailored to each case. On the other hand, I make sure our consultants stay up to date with regulations, methodologies, technologies, and trends so we can provide the best solutions. Carrying out specific projects with clients is also part of my role as a consultant.

Brief description of the company, highlighting its activity in the field of waste or the circular economy:
Zirkel is a consultancy specialized in environmental sustainability and the circular economy. Our role is to implement methodologies, tools, and technologies within companies to help them integrate these disciplines into their business management. The main areas we work in are:

Decarbonization:

• Organizational carbon footprint (GHG Protocol and ISO 14064)

• Product carbon footprint (ISO 14067)

• Reduction plans, Net Zero, and Carbon Neutrality (SBT, ISO 14068)

• Implementation of organizational carbon footprint software

Type III Environmental footprints and labels:

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

• Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

• Water footprint (WFN, ISO 14046)

• Product Environmental Footprint (PEF)

• Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF)

• Implementation of LCA software

Circular economy:

• Metrics and evaluation systems (ISO 59000 series standards)

ESG disclosure:

• Preparation of Non-Financial Information Statements (NFIS)

• Support with disclosure (CSRD, GRESB, others)

• Implementation of ESG reporting software

What challenges or needs is your company currently addressing?
We see that companies, first and foremost, need to adopt sustainability and circular economy management methodologies and tools. Just as happened a few decades ago with ISO 14001, which over time became widely adopted, we foresee that in the coming years there will be a gradual adoption of sustainability management methodologies and systems (organizational carbon footprint, LCA, ESG disclosure, etc.).

Additionally, it will be necessary to implement tangible actions that reduce the pressure of business activity on natural systems. This is where product and service eco-design, circular economy strategies, and sustainable or circular business models come into play. Altogether, these issues present a real challenge for companies due to the implications they have at many levels.

What motivated you to become a member, and what kind of synergies are you looking for with other members?
The possibility of sharing a space with representatives of the value chain has been the main reason for joining CREC. In this regard, we have greatly valued the profile of the members and the representation they provide of the various areas of this industrial sector. We are joining with the expectation of learning from an industry that is key to decarbonization and the implementation of the circular economy.

Our aim is to explore with other members ways to highlight their contribution to the circular economy and decarbonization. We would also like to contribute our knowledge in terms of methodologies, regulations, and technologies.

L'entrada We are CREC: Today we introduce… ZIRKEL ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Today we introduce…

What’s your name and your role in the company?
I’m Raúl Benages Vilau, Research Project Manager at the company. My work mainly focuses on securing grants to advance the company’s relevant knowledge and open new business lines.

Brief description of the company, highlighting its activity in the field of waste or the circular economy:
At Hausmann, we are a B2B company specialized in custom development of aromas, flavors, extracts, and essential oils tailored to our clients’ needs. We work across various sectors: food and beverages, confectionery, coffee and chocolate, pharmaceutical products, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

We are carrying out several projects to upcycle certain waste streams. Some examples include:

• Decarbofarm: Study on the recovery of bio-stimulant/fertilizer molecules from agricultural waste.

• Enzivanil: Biosynthesis of vanilla aromas from agronomic waste.

• Hauswaste: Recovery of molecules with beneficial effects on human health from industrial processing waste.

What challenges or needs is your company currently addressing?
Hausmann is aware of the limited agricultural land currently available and the global food supply problem. Overpopulation and changing habits — especially in the developed world — have led to declining health and a deficiency of certain molecules. We are convinced that a significant number of functional products can be formulated from selective extracts of food and/or agronomic waste and by-products.

In addition, our company generates a series of agronomic residues from our own industrial processing. Once we have processed our raw materials, we believe that additional value can still be extracted before moving to incineration or energy generation.

What motivated you to become a member, and what kind of synergies are you looking for with other members?
As part of our strategy to become a global leader in the upcycling of by-products from and for the food industry, being connected with the Catalan ecosystem is a key milestone. We are interested in conducting funded research projects with by-product suppliers that could be viable for future industrial exploitation. Furthermore, we also have some residues that could be valorized, and we are open to exploring potential collaboration opportunities.

L'entrada We are CREC: Today we introduce… HAUSMANN ha aparegut primer a CREC.

In “SOM CREC”, we introduce you to the latest partner companies that have joined this project: the people who help grow our community every day. Discover who they are, what they do, and how they contribute to making CREC a vibrant, creative, and collaborative space.

Today, we introduce…

What’s your name and your role in the company?
I’m Maria Vázquez, General Director of Adec Global.

Brief description of your company, highlighting its activity in the field of waste or the circular economy:
At Adec Global, we work to transform waste—particularly industrial (steelmaking) and construction waste—into new resources with added value, promoting sustainability and circularity. We operate the only facility in Catalonia capable of managing up to 350,000 tons of steel slag and 450,000 tons of C&D (construction and demolition) waste. Through research projects, technical consulting, and collaboration with various stakeholders, we turn environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation.

What challenges or needs is your company currently addressing?
Right now, we’re focused on expanding the use of our materials as secondary raw materials across various sectors, especially in construction, where there is still resistance to normalizing the use of recycled or non-conventional materials. Additionally, Adec Global aims to strengthen its R&D&I projects to find new applications for steel slags.

What motivated you to become a member, and what kind of synergies are you looking for with other members?
We joined to share knowledge and forge strategic alliances with other organizations committed to the circular economy and resource regeneration. We highly value the spaces for collaboration and exchange of experiences that the network offers, and we’re seeking synergies with partners working in complementary areas such as research, waste management, or environmental innovation.

Thank you for being part of CREC!

L'entrada We are CREC: Today we introduce… ADEC GLOBAL ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Today, we introduce…

What’s your name and your role in the company?
Elena Durant – Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
Susana Zühr – Head of Project Management and Coordination at IN’STRUKTURA

Brief description of your company, highlighting its activity in the field of waste or the circular economy:
At Adaequo Group, we offer comprehensive solutions in POS (Point of Sale), covering all stages: from design to manufacturing, installation, and dismantling, with a strong commitment to quality and efficiency. Our group consists of three complementary entities:
Baskiat Creativa, a design agency;
Adaequo, specialized in multi-material manufacturing; and
IN’STRUKTURA, focused on installation, dismantling, and recycling.

Elena: As Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Adaequo Group, my role is to define a sustainability strategy fully integrated into the company’s DNA. This involves promoting responsible practices such as eco-design and reverse logistics applied to POS, with the goal of moving toward an increasingly circular model.

Susana: In the field of dismantling installations (temporary promotions in shopping centers, usually made up of various POS elements) and individual POS items, we are working on introducing recycling services to replace the previously common practice of “destruction.” To do this, we are studying the feasibility of separating materials and identifying potential management pathways to allow them to be reused—thus entering the circular economy loop.

What challenges or needs is your company currently addressing?
We are adopting a circular economy approach by training our teams in eco-design and developing reverse logistics to manage the end-of-life of POS materials. Since there is no specific EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) scheme for POS in Spain, we are exploring ways to add value through dismantling, reuse, and recycling. Collaboration among the various stakeholders in the sector is key—though also a major challenge. Additionally, we are researching the most suitable KPIs to measure traceability and the value recovery of recycled materials, aiming to offer transparency and added value to our clients.

What motivated you to become a member, and what kind of synergies are you looking for with other members?
Joining the Waste Cluster of Catalonia has been a key step in our commitment to the circular economy. We quickly realized that without collaboration with the waste sector, we wouldn’t be able to carry out our projects effectively. Moreover, the cluster has become a dynamic and enriching network where we share knowledge, experiences, and common interests. We particularly value the opportunity to generate synergies that promote sustainable and collective solutions to the challenges our sector faces.

Thank you for being part of CREC!

L'entrada We are CREC: Today we introduce… ADAEQUO GROUP ha aparegut primer a CREC.