The ecological transition requires new infrastructure linked to renewable energy, bioenergy and waste management. However, the success of these projects depends not only on their technical or economic viability, but also on their ability to build trust and establish strong relationships with the communities and territories where they are developed.

With this objective, the Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia (CBC), the Catalonia Efficient Energy Cluster (CEEC) and the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (CREC) jointly developed the project Managing Social Licence and the Territorial Integration of Ecological Transition Projects in Catalonia, an initiative that culminated on 10 July with the presentation of the project’s guide.

A guide to integrating the social dimension into projects

The guide was developed to address one of the main challenges currently facing infrastructure developers: ensuring that projects not only comply with all administrative requirements but are also understood, accepted and successfully integrated into the social and territorial context in which they are implemented.

Rather than viewing social licence simply as a communication tool, the publication proposes a comprehensive approach based on eight key pillars: territorial integration, transparency, participation, governance, local value creation, communication, education and impact management.

In addition, it advocates a preventive strategy by recommending that dialogue with local communities begin even before the project’s administrative approval process starts.

A practical tool for public and private project developers

Designed for both public and private project developers, the guide brings together methodologies, practical recommendations, implementation tools and real-life examples to help organisations incorporate the social dimension as a strategic element in the development of their projects.

The document is the result of a participatory process involving companies, organisations and experts from the three sectors represented by the clusters.

Success stories demonstrating that social licence is achievable

The guide also features real experiences from companies that have made their relationship with local communities a key factor in the success of their projects.

From the bioenergy sector, Genia Bioenergy highlights that trust begins long before a project is fully defined. “It is essential to start the dialogue from the earliest stages, correctly identify local stakeholders, clearly explain how the facility will operate and respond transparently to citizens’ concerns. Social acceptance is strengthened when the community sees that the project listens, responds and acts consistently,” explains Cristina Pascual, Social Licence Manager at Genia Bioenergy.

For its part, PreZero, a leading company in the waste management sector, believes that social licence should be embedded in the company’s day-to-day operations. According to Núria Aguasca, Treatment Delegate within the Industrial Business Division, “Transparency, active listening and education must be integrated into decision-making. Trust is not built overnight; it grows through consistency, responsibility and by demonstrating that listening to citizens genuinely influences the way we work.”

In the renewable energy sector, Aspiravi España emphasises the importance of local presence. According to Marcos Piqué, Renewable Energy Business Development Director, “Having a local presence from the earliest stages of a project, understanding the concerns of local residents and adapting the project to the territory are essential to building social acceptance. Trust is maintained through continuous outreach and by delivering on the commitments made.”

A shared ecological transition

Through this initiative, the three clusters reinforce their commitment to an ecological transition that is not only technically feasible and environmentally necessary, but also socially supported.

The new guide aims to become a reference tool for companies, public authorities and local stakeholders, helping to promote projects capable of generating economic, environmental and social value through dialogue and collaboration.

Download the Guide

Explore the Guide to Managing Social Licence and the Territorial Integration of Ecological Transition Projects in Catalonia and discover practical recommendations, methodologies and success stories to help integrate the social dimension into your projects.

Download it here.

L'entrada The Bioenergy Cluster of Catalonia, the Waste Cluster of Catalonia and the Catalonia Efficient Energy Cluster present a pioneering guide to foster the social acceptance of ecological transition projects. ha aparegut primer a CREC.

As part of the project Managing Social Licence and the Territorial Integration of Ecological Transition Projects in Catalonia, we spoke with Carles Salesa from CADEVA, a company with extensive experience in the management of environmental infrastructure and waste-related services. Drawing on his professional experience, he shares a clear message: the trust of local communities cannot be improvised—it must be built through dialogue, transparency, and close engagement.

For Salesa, the relationship with the community should be built on three fundamental principles: listening, informing and responding. Beyond meeting administrative requirements, he considers it essential to establish permanent communication channels with local stakeholders, create spaces for participation, and facilitate direct dialogue with citizens. He also highlights the value of guided visits, open days and environmental education programmes, which help people understand how facilities operate in practice, dispel misconceptions, and bring waste management closer to society.

According to Salesa, public participation is particularly valuable when it begins in the early stages of a project. At this point, there is still an opportunity to incorporate feedback and adapt certain aspects of the infrastructure’s design or operation. However, he stresses that social licence is not something that is secured only before a facility is built; it must be continuously maintained throughout its entire lifecycle by ensuring ongoing communication and addressing any concerns that may arise.

In this context, Salesa defines social licence as the trust that a community places in an infrastructure project and in the organisation responsible for managing it. It is a form of trust that takes considerable time and effort to build, yet can be lost quickly if transparency, technical rigour and responsiveness are lacking.

These are precisely some of the pillars that he considers essential for gaining social acceptance. Clearly explaining from the outset why an infrastructure is needed, the role it plays, the benefits it provides, and the measures implemented to prevent or minimise its impacts helps create an atmosphere of trust. However, this information must always be supported by objective data, independent studies and monitoring systems that continuously demonstrate the proper operation of the facilities.

One of the clearest examples is odour management, which is often one of the issues of greatest concern to local communities. According to Salesa, the best strategy is to incorporate all the necessary preventive measures from the earliest stages of the design process and complement them with monitoring systems and response protocols that enable rapid action whenever an incident occurs. In many cases, he notes, trust depends as much on the ability to respond effectively as on the existence of the problem itself.

This approach to infrastructure management also means recognising that its social dimension is just as important as its technological one. For this reason, Salesa argues that communication, public participation and environmental education should not be treated as occasional initiatives, but rather as permanent lines of work that require resources, planning and long-term commitment. Managing environmental infrastructure also means managing the relationship with the surrounding community.

To assess whether these efforts are delivering results, Salesa advocates monitoring a range of indicators that measure the evolution of public trust. The number of enquiries and complaints, participation in guided visits and public events, satisfaction surveys, relationships with neighbourhood associations, media coverage, and the perceptions of different local stakeholders are all useful indicators for evaluating whether these initiatives are genuinely improving social acceptance.

Looking ahead, Salesa believes that the ecological transition will only be possible if new infrastructure projects gain the support of local communities. In this context, he emphasises the need to continue tackling misinformation with scientific evidence, strengthen opportunities for dialogue, and promote an informed and engaged public that actively participates in shaping the future of waste management.

His experience demonstrates that social licence is not a one-time achievement, but an ongoing process that requires active listening, transparency, and a relationship of trust built day by day between environmental infrastructure and the communities it serves.

L'entrada Social Licence: A Key Factor in Driving the Ecological Transition with the Support of Local Communities ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Si ets una persona organitzada, metòdica, amb ganes d’aprendre i de formar part d’un equip compromès amb la transformació cap a una economia més circular, ens encantarà conèixer-te.

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Incorporació estable.

Busquem persones amb:
• Formació en ADE, Economia o estudis similars.
• Capacitat organitzativa i orientació al detall.
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• Ganes de treballar en equip i contribuir a projectes amb impacte.

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Si t’interessa, envia’ns el teu CV i una breu carta de motivació a info@crec.cat.

I si coneixes algú a qui li pugui encaixar aquesta oportunitat, agrairem molt que comparteixis aquesta publicació.

L'entrada OFERTA LABORAL: Tècnic/a de gestió de projectes ha aparegut primer a CREC.

1. What is your name and your role at the company?

My name is Jose Ramón Herrero, and I am the Country Manager at Paneco Ambiente. My role focuses on leading the company’s strategy and market development, connecting our environmental biotechnology solutions with the real operational needs of the sector.

On a day-to-day basis, my work involves presenting our solutions and, based on our experience, either replicating proven approaches or adapting them to the specific context and circumstances of each client, whether in the public or private sector.

2. Briefly describe your company and the role it plays within the waste management or circular economy sector.

At Paneco Ambiente, we develop and market environmentally friendly environmental biotechnology solutions designed to reduce the impact of human activity.

Our technology combines naturally occurring, non-genetically modified microbial consortia, specific nutrients that support their growth, and natural plant extracts. Through these formulations, we are able to:

• Neutralise odour-causing molecules through odour abatement mechanisms.
• Capture PM2.5 particulate matter.
• Significantly accelerate the biodegradation of a wide range of organic compounds.

Beyond the waste sector, we also provide solutions for the primary industry, including organic and regenerative agriculture, livestock farming, and even aquaculture. Large-scale water bioremediation—focusing on nutrient control and the prevention of eutrophication—is another area where our technology is successfully applied.

We work with both public and private organisations facing environmental challenges related to waste treatment or odour emissions in facilities such as:

• Composting and waste sorting plants.
• Biogas and anaerobic digestion facilities.
• Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
• Industrial sites and waste management facilities in general.

Our priority is to provide Nature-Based Solutions that are completely safe for both people and the environment, enabling complex environmental challenges to be addressed in a clean and sustainable way.

3. What challenges or needs is your company currently addressing?

The environmental and waste management sector is at a turning point. On one hand, organisations are facing increasingly demanding environmental regulations, particularly regarding emissions control and odour management. On the other, there is a growing need to improve the operational efficiency of treatment facilities and maximise the recovery of valuable resources.

In this context, the challenges are no longer simply reactive—such as resolving odour complaints—but increasingly preventive and process-oriented. One of the key priorities is optimising the biological processes that take place within treatment facilities by:

• Increasing the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and biogas production.
• Improving processing times and compost quality in composting plants.
• Significantly reducing emissions, including not only odours but also greenhouse gases and compounds such as ammonia.

Our greatest challenge is to make biotechnology an everyday management tool. Wherever possible, we aim to replace non-sustainable chemical treatments and temporary corrective measures with integrated biological processes that tackle problems at their source while maximising plant efficiency in a safe and sustainable way.

4. What motivated you to join CREC, and what kind of synergies are you looking to build with other members?

Our decision to join CREC was driven by our desire to connect directly with Catalonia’s environmental innovation ecosystem and actively contribute to the transformation of the sector.

As a technology-driven company, we do not believe innovation happens in isolation. Alongside our environmental biotechnology solutions, we bring the expertise and experience of our industrial group in Italy, a pioneer in the sector with more than 40 years of experience in waste treatment, biogas production, and landfill gas recovery.

Within CREC, we are looking to build technical collaborations and co-develop innovative solutions with other members by:

• Working closely with waste management companies, engineering firms, treatment plant operators, and other stakeholders to address complex real-world challenges while identifying emerging needs that can drive future research and product development.
• Implementing pilot projects that demonstrate biotechnology as a key enabler of the circular economy.
• Sharing technical knowledge to raise standards of sustainability, operational efficiency, and harmonious integration between treatment facilities and their surrounding communities.

L'entrada SOM CREC: Today we introduce… PANECO ha aparegut primer a CREC.

In this episode, Carandini, Fundación ECOLUM and Urbaser Electronics share their experience in a project that places eco-design at the heart of lighting fixture development. Collaboration between the manufacturer, the Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) and the waste management company has made it possible to integrate recyclability criteria from the earliest design stages, facilitating the disassembly of lighting fixtures, the separation of their different materials and their subsequent recovery at the end of their service life.

Throughout the conversation, the participants explain how working together from the very beginning of the process makes it possible to anticipate the product’s end of life and make design decisions that improve material recovery, optimise traceability and increase the efficiency of the recycling system. This approach highlights that design decisions have a direct impact on the circularity of products and their ability to generate new resources.

The project also highlights the fundamental role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the importance of manufacturers, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and waste management companies sharing information and expertise to develop more sustainable solutions. This collaboration not only improves the recyclability of lighting fixtures, but also creates new opportunities for innovation and promotes more efficient and circular production models.

This third episode of Veus Circulars demonstrates that circularity is not only about waste management, but also about design, planning and cooperation between all the stakeholders involved throughout a product’s life cycle.

From CREC, we would like to thank Carandini, Fundación ECOLUM and Urbaser Electronics, as well as everyone who participated in this project, for their commitment and willingness to share an initiative that demonstrates that collaboration is the most effective way to advance towards a more circular economy.

L'entrada Veus Circulars | Eco-design as the Key to Improving the Recyclability of Lighting Fixtures ha aparegut primer a CREC.

In this episode, Grup Calaf, CGM Centre de Gestió Mediambiental and Plastic People share their experience in a project that demonstrates that circular construction begins long before waste reaches a treatment facility. The key lies in the proper separation of materials at the very moment they are generated on site, ensuring their quality, traceability and potential for recovery.

Throughout the conversation, the participants explain how the introduction of the Waste Manager role has helped improve waste flow management by ensuring efficient source separation and enabling materials to retain their value throughout the entire process. This coordination between the construction company, the waste manager and the manufacturing industry makes it possible to move towards a more efficient and sustainable model.

Thanks to this working model, plastic waste generated by construction activities can be recovered, transformed into new raw material and turned into new recycled formwork panels, which are then reintroduced into the construction sector. This is a practical example of how the material loop can be closed while reducing the consumption of virgin resources through collaboration between all the stakeholders involved.

This project demonstrates that circular construction is not only about managing waste correctly, but also about rethinking processes from the very beginning to preserve the value of materials, encourage their reuse and promote new, more circular production models.

From CREC, we would like to thank Grup Calaf, CGM Centre de Gestió Mediambiental and Plastic People, as well as all the professionals who took part in this project, for their commitment and willingness to share an initiative that demonstrates how collaboration is a fundamental driver in advancing towards a more sustainable and circular construction sector.

L'entrada Veus Circulars | Circular Construction Begins with Effective Waste Management ha aparegut primer a CREC.

This first episode focuses on the renewal of Barcelona’s urban waste containers, a routine process that, thanks to the involvement of the Barcelona City Council, ROS ROCA, S.A. and TIRGI, has become an opportunity to keep materials in circulation and reduce the consumption of natural resources.

Throughout the conversation, the participants explain how a strategic public procurement initiative has made it possible to incorporate circular economy principles into the renewal of the city’s waste container fleet. The project highlights the importance of considering a product’s end of life from the very moment tenders are designed and the first decisions are made, enabling the recovery of materials and their reincorporation into the manufacturing of new waste containers.

The collaboration between the public administration, the manufacturer and the waste management company has been essential in developing a model that makes it possible to recover and recycle end-of-life waste containers, transforming them into raw material for the production of new ones. This approach reduces the need for virgin raw materials, extends the life cycle of materials and generates positive environmental and industrial impacts.

This project demonstrates that circularity does not depend solely on recycling, but on the ability of all stakeholders involved to work together, share knowledge and make joint decisions that preserve the value of resources for as long as possible.

Through this first episode, Veus Circulars shows that public procurement can become a strategic tool for driving innovation and fostering new models of collaboration that contribute to building more sustainable and resilient cities.

From CREC, we would like to thank the Barcelona City Council, ROS ROCA, S.A. and TIRGI for their participation and their willingness to share this success story, which demonstrates how collaboration between public administration, industry and waste management is key to making the circular economy a reality.

L'entrada Veus Circulars | The Renewal of Barcelona’s Waste Containers: An Example of Circularity Driven by Collaboration ha aparegut primer a CREC.

The circular economy is much more than recycling. It is about rethinking the way we design products, manage resources and, above all, collaborate. Behind every successful project there is shared knowledge, innovation, commitment and a network of stakeholders working together to turn environmental challenges into new opportunities. This is the common thread of Veus Circulars: to demonstrate that circularity is only possible when every actor in the value chain moves in the same direction.

Through engaging and informative conversations, the series presents real-life cases in which public administrations, manufacturers, companies, waste managers, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and other key stakeholders share their experiences, challenges and lessons learned. Each episode focuses on a specific project to explain how collaboration enables the development of innovative solutions that transform waste into resources, generate environmental, industrial and social value, and pave the way for replicable models across different sectors and territories.

The different episodes explore initiatives as diverse as the circularity of Barcelona’s urban waste containers, the transformation of construction waste into new products, and the eco-design of lighting fixtures to improve their recyclability. All with one shared objective: to highlight the partnerships that make the circular economy possible and to demonstrate that innovation is not the result of individual action, but of the collective work of all the stakeholders involved.

With Veus Circulars, CREC reaffirms its commitment to connecting companies, public administrations and organisations to foster innovation, share knowledge and create new opportunities for collaboration. Giving visibility to these projects is also a way to inspire new initiatives, encourage the exchange of experiences and accelerate the transition towards a more circular economy.

Because behind every project there are people who innovate, collaborate and take on new challenges. And behind every waste stream there is an opportunity to create value. Veus Circulars was created to give a voice to these stories and to demonstrate that, when collaboration becomes the driving force for change, circularity ceases to be a goal for the future and becomes a reality of the present.

L'entrada Veus Circulars: Real Conversations. Real Stories. Transforming Waste into Resources. ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Summer Networking is one of CREC’s flagship annual events, designed to foster knowledge sharing, create new collaboration opportunities and strengthen connections among the different stakeholders that make up the waste management and circular economy ecosystem.

Throughout the event, attendees took part in discussion and networking sessions that addressed some of the sector’s key challenges and opportunities. Conversations focused on innovation, collaboration between companies and clusters, resource valorisation, and the need to promote joint solutions that accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

The event also included a guided tour of the Capellades Paper Mill Museum, a landmark site that showcases Catalonia’s industrial heritage and provided the perfect setting for a day of exchanging ideas, experiences and innovative projects.

Canal Taronja’s coverage captures some of the event’s highlights, featuring interviews with participants and footage of the collaborative atmosphere throughout the day.

You can watch the video produced by the media outlet below and read the full news article.

Read the full article on Canal Taronja: Capellades hosts the annual meeting of the Catalonia Waste Cluster.

L'entrada CREC’s Summer Networking 2026 Featured on Canal Taronja ha aparegut primer a CREC.

Held at the Molí Paperer de Capellades, the event brought together professionals from a wide range of sectors with a shared goal: to build meaningful connections, exchange experiences and demonstrate that collaboration across ecosystems is a key driver in accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy.

The event opened with welcome remarks from Elisabet Alier, President of CREC, and Victoria Rabal, Director of the Molí Paperer de Capellades, who welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of creating spaces that encourage dialogue, innovation and cooperation between companies and organisations.

One of the highlights of this year’s edition was the round-table format, which brought together three clusters and three companies from a wide range of sectors to share experiences and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy. This combination provided complementary viewpoints and demonstrated that circularity is a cross-cutting challenge that can only be addressed through collaboration.

The first round table featured Joaquim Solana, Cluster Manager of AMBIT – Living Spaces Cluster, and Xavier Rius, Director of CITYSENS, who shared their experience in developing solutions related to sustainable design, urban green spaces and innovation for the built environment.

The second discussion brought together Andrea Padré, Cluster Manager of CICAT – Catalonia Lighting Cluster, and representatives from LAMP, who reflected on the role of innovation, ecodesign and business collaboration in developing more efficient and sustainable lighting solutions.

The third round table featured Clàudia Parera, from the Barcelona Clúster Nàutic, and Armand Sendil, from V de Bravado, who shared insights from the nautical sector and presented initiatives aimed at integrating sustainability, innovation and circular economy principles into their activities.

Despite the diversity of the sectors represented, all the discussions conveyed a common message: the need to work together to address environmental challenges and turn them into opportunities for transformation and competitiveness. Throughout the sessions, participants explored topics such as circular strategies, resource valorisation, knowledge sharing and collaborative project development, highlighting that exchanging experiences across sectors is a powerful source of innovation and new opportunities.

Following the discussions, attendees had the opportunity to visit the Molí Paperer de Capellades, an iconic site of Catalonia’s industrial heritage that has preserved the tradition of papermaking since the 18th century. The visit offered valuable insight into the history of paper, its traditional manufacturing process, and the connection between heritage, industry and sustainability.

The event concluded with a networking lunch, providing a relaxed setting for participants to continue the conversations started during the morning, establish new connections and explore future opportunities for collaboration between companies, clusters and institutions.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Albert Planell, Director of the Waste Agency of Catalonia, who highlighted the importance of promoting initiatives that bring together different sectors and foster collaboration as a driver of innovation and the transition towards a more circular economy.

At CREC, we would like to thank AMBIT – Living Spaces Cluster, CICAT – Catalonia Lighting Cluster, Barcelona Clúster Nàutic, as well as CITYSENS, LAMP and V de Bravado, for sharing their knowledge and helping to enrich the discussions throughout the event.

This new edition of the CREC Summer Networking once again demonstrated that the challenges of the circular economy require a shared vision and cross-sector collaboration. By bringing together three clusters and three companies from very different industries in a single event, CREC created a unique space for knowledge exchange, new connections and collaborative thinking. The diversity of perspectives not only inspired fresh ideas but also laid the foundations for future projects with real impact, reinforcing the message that collaboration across ecosystems is essential to accelerating the transition towards a more circular economy.

L'entrada The new edition of the CREC Summer Networking fosters collaboration to advance towards a more circular economy. ha aparegut primer a CREC.