Environment: Set up first Italian platform for a circular economy

At the start the Italian platform for a circular economy (ICESP - Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform) with the signature of the program[1] today at the ENEA headquarters in Rome, in the presence of President Federico Testa and Fulvia Raffaelli,  representative of the European Commission

The ICESP platform will be led by ENEA, representative of the world of research and only Italian member in the coordination group of the European platform ECESP (European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform).

A place for exchanging views on the various national initiatives to represent the Italian model in Europe, the platform constitutes a "network of networks" aiming at  creating a point of national convergence on initiatives, experiences, critical issues and prospects of a circular economy.

"Following the selection within the ECESP Coordination Group, ENEA was asked to play the role of National Hub for a circular economy by the European Commission", Roberto Morabito, Head of the ENEA Department “Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems”, explained. "ENEA promoted the birth of ICESP, with the aim, among others, of spreading  Italian excellences and our view of a  circular economy, starting from the traditions and typical features of the territory,  associated with cultural, social and entrepreneurial models which characterize it. Thus, the Country and its circular economy model will be represented in Europe by a single voice ", Morabito continued.

ICESP will work through a web platform which facilitates the exchange of information and best practices, periodic consultations in view of Coordination Group meetings and operational  and consultation activities through Working Groups on the various issues related to a circular economy, open to the widest participation of all interested Italian actors. ENEA will transfer information from Europe to Italy and vice versa. Thanks to the interaction among the various working groups, position papers and reports will be drawn and  thematic workshops organized.

Several important representatives of the circular economy sector in the world of research and industry and the national and local Public Administration have joined our proposal for the creation of the platform,"  Morabito continued.

The considerable benefits found on the economy and the environment were the reasons that led the European Commission to issue precise directives on this matter, involving the Member States in in-depth and stakeholders consultation initiatives. The circular economy does not exploit primary resources, already scarcely available in Europe and in particular in Italy, because it is not based on the collection and consumption of resources with subsequent waste disposal, but on the production of goods and services designed for their recycling and reuse.

"With the creation of the European Platform, Member States have the opportunity to collaborate and propose solutions, based on their their experiences, to cross-sectoral and specific challenges, supporting this innovative model of economy",  Morabito concluded.

For more information please contact:

Roberto Morabito, ENEA – Head Department “Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems”, roberto.morabito@enea.it

Laura Cutaia, ENEA – Head Laboratory “Valorisation of Resources”, laura.cutaia@enea.it

Grazia Barberio, ENEA – Laboratory “Valorisation of Resources”grazia.barberio@enea.it

[1] The programmatic manifesto, called the ICESP Charter, defines goals, common interests and operational tools of the platform.