Colombia is undergoing a transition from a linear waste management system to a circular economy. Colombia's national waste strategy has the objective of recycling 25 % of waste. National Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) agreements oblige key industries to implement circular economy measures in order to achieve the national climate targets - a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. Nevertheless, the current recycling rate is only 8%.
Objective: Business and financing models for a climate-friendly and job-creating circular economy are scaled up in Colombia.
The project pursues three central measures:
1. State, private sector and civil society actors are closely networked through funded dialogue formats in order to modernise existing regulations and funding mechanisms. This is complemented by the introduction of instruments for recording greenhouse gas emissions, which help to demonstrate the efficiency of circular economy measures and promote investments in innovative circular economy business models in a targeted manner.
2. In the departments of upcycling, remanufacturing and packaging reduction, successful business models are being systematically scaled up. The focus here is on promoting micro, small and medium-sized companies, some of which are run by women. The sustainability and broad impact of these business models is strengthened through targeted networking with larger anchor companies and the development of suitable financing products.
3. Learning opportunities and partnerships with German specialist institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute and the German Biomass Research Centre improve expertise, strengthen the competitiveness of Colombian companies and promote socio-economic development for a sustainable transformation to a circular economy.