During three days, the Basque Circular Summit 2025 will take place in Euskalduna Bilbao, addressing the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy.
Bilbao will host the Basque Circular Summit 2025 on April 2, 3, and 4, organized by Ihobe, the public Environmental Management company of the Basque Government, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of the circular economy. For the first time, this event will have 1,000 registered participants, with over 140 speakers and a presence of more than 100 companies showcasing their circular solutions.
The Lehendakari, Imanol Pradales, will inaugurate this congress at Euskadduna Bilbao, along with the Minister of Industry, Energy Transition, and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi.
The Congress will bring together companies, institutions, and experts for three days at Euskalduna Bilbao to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the circular transition. It is the largest event on the circular economy in southern Europe, aiming to explore all implications of the new planning and regulations from the European Union – the new European Clean Industrial Pact – on the Basque industrial sector.
This event, held every three years by Ihobe, will carry the theme «Time for Action,» emphasizing the importance of the circular economy as a way to «produce more using fewer resources.»
THREE SPACES
With 1,000 registered participants, 95% from the business world, the congress will feature three spaces. Firstly, there will be a gathering of circular economy experts at an international and local scale discussing the main trends in integrating sustainability into business activities.
With over 140 speakers, notable figures like Janez Potocnik, co-chair of IRP, PNUMA, and former European Commissioner, journalist Brenda Chávez, and the founding partner of Acativa Partners will be present.
In the second space, the Basque Circular EXPO will showcase around 100 companies presenting over 150 circular products, 70% of which are new.
The third space, the Basque Circular VILLAGE, will feature 22 agents driving the circular economy in Euskadi. This area of stands and networking will allow them to showcase their ideas and connect with investors and established companies.
The first day of the Congress will include a session with the Minister of Industry analyzing the state of the Circular Economy in Euskadi.
Following this, there will be a roundtable discussion with the former European Commissioner for the Environment, Janez Potocnik, addressing the challenges and opportunities of the Circular Economy in Europe. Also joining them will be Alejandro Dorado, appointed for the circular economy by the Spanish Government, and Irantzu Allende, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition for the Basque Government.
The plenary of the first day of BCS2025 will focus on the advancements in European legislative and regulatory development in the circular economy sector. It will delve into the new directives and regulations transforming key sectors. Additionally, it will analyze the impact of the recently published ‘Clean Industrial Pact’ by the European Commission, aiming to promote sustainability in the European business landscape.
Parallel sessions will cover topics like packaging design and recycling, sustainable solutions in the textile industry, critical raw materials, the construction materials sector, the implementation and benefits of digital product passports, and the right to repair.
Furthermore, the role of financial institutions as drivers of a more circular economy in Europe will be a key focus in one of the plenaries on the second day of the conference. Another plenary will tackle the role of consumers in the circular economy and how to change consumption patterns.
Parallel sessions will address greenwashing, the crucial role of local and supramunicipal entities in areas like waste, energy, mobility, and urban planning. The new Directive on Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD), mandatory from 2025, will also be analyzed.
This directive significantly expands the scope of sustainability reporting obligations for a broader range of companies, including both large and medium-sized ones, and establishes new standards for disclosing various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators.
On the final day, the plenary will focus on driving the implementation of clean technologies with fiscal instruments like the Basque List of Clean Technologies, promoted by Ihobe, EVE, and SPRI. This allows a 30% tax deduction on the investment cost of equipment against the Corporate Tax for companies based in Euskadi.
Additionally, discussions will cover the application of artificial intelligence combined with the circular economy as a catalyst for change, eco-innovation in material efficiency, the presentation of circular business models, and the introduction of the Climate & Circularity calculator, rounding out the diverse range of topics at this event.
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