The recognition, organized by the Circular Challenge Foundation and presented by Enel Chile, aimed to highlight social organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large companies that are implementing circular economy strategies with a direct impact on five key challenges for sustainable development: Energy, Water, Enhancement, Emissions, and Social. In this first edition, over 170 initiatives applied and 18 were awarded in a ceremony held this past August 9th. .
The Circular Awards 2023 were a huge success, attracting over 170 circular economy projects in categories such as Energy, Water, Enhancement, Emissions, and Social. A panel of 25 experts in circular economy and sustainable development were tasked with selecting the 18 winners. The awards ceremony, which took place this past August 9th, was led by the Circular Challenge Foundation and Enel Chile, the main sponsor for the awards.
Foundation chairman, Humberto Salinas, emphasized the purpose of recognizing and rewarding the leading entities in Chile that are driving circular economy and sustainable development. On the other hand, Montserrat Palomar, Sustainability Manager at Enel Chile, praised the perseverance in the search for sustainable solutions and emphasized the importance of the question, “What more can we do in the face of current challenges?”
The winners in the five categories were Calagro, Ecological, Empresas Iansa, Enerlink, Fundación Chile, Fundación Nonos, Fundación Tedoy, Imeko SPA, Kyklos, Mochacó, Movener, and Walmart S.A. A special award was also given for high-impact Circular Action to CIC, Matter of Trust, Owo, Rembre, T-Phite, and Unibag.
In the Water Challenge, Ecological stood out for its project “Mi vivienda hídrica,” which reuses graywater through modular wetlands, making it easy to implement in households. In the Emissions Challenge, Movener developed the "Movener e-power kit" to convert combustion machinery and trucks into hybrids, contributing to decarbonization efforts. Enerlink stood out in the Energy Challenge for its software that facilitates energy management and the adoption of electromobility in cities. The Tedoy Chile Foundation won in the Social Challenge category with its network of “selfless collaborative consumption,” which promotes conscious consumption, mobilizes the reuse of unused products, and fosters multiple communities through social networks across the country. In the Enhancement Challenge, Mochacó was awarded for creating circular fashion, clothing, and footwear from textiles recovered from industrial processes, while the Nonos Foundation won for its contribution to the valorization of textile waste, empowering people in vulnerable situations and generating a positive economic impact.
These projects were praised for their innovation and for demonstrating that a circular approach to the use of material resources, water, and energy can make a significant contribution to emission reduction, water consumption reduction, material valorization, waste reduction, and economic and social impact. .
Complementary to the initiative, the Circular Challenge Foundation announced the future launch of a national map of companies and organizations contributing to the circular economy in each region of the country. It is envisioned as a guide that aims to inform and accelerate partnerships and collaborations around this new economy, inviting society to make efficient use of resources and regenerate natural ecosystems.
More details on the winners and projects at:https://www.paiscircular.cl/economia-circular/ganadores-de-circular-awards-2023-un-ejemplo-de-innovacion-sustentable-para-enfrentar-los-desafios-del-pais/