Turning Marine Plastic Pollution into Business Opportunities
Thursday, September 19
PARANINFO Room, Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura Building, Gijón
Time: 09:00 to 13:30 h
The Blue Point project aims to create a multi-stakeholder ecosystem of intercooperation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and internationalization that leverages the marine plastic value chain and emerging business opportunities to establish a replicable circular economy model in the Atlantic region. This will reduce the environmental impact of marine plastic, create new business opportunities, and guide the maritime sector toward a Blue Circular Economy.
The project’s launch event brings together leaders and experts from the sector to explore how the fight against plastic pollution can open new doors for business progress and sustainability. Throughout the event, the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of the blue economy will be discussed, and how these can serve as sources of inspiration and positive change.
To carry out the project, the Blue Point Consortium has been developed, comprising 13 partners representing various regions of the Atlantic Area. It includes organizations and public administrations from Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and France.
Representing Spain, the consortium includes the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, MIK (Research Center for Management at Mondragon University), SODERCAN (Society for the Development of Cantabria), the Government of the Principality of Asturias, and the Grouping of Asturian Cooperative Societies and Social Economy. The Portuguese partner organizations are CVR – Center for Waste Valorization and Laboratório da Paisagem. From France, the participants include I Clean My Sea, École Supérieure des Technologies Industrielles Avancées (ESTIA), and Decathlon. Finally, representing Ireland are the Atlantic Technological University, the University of Limerick, and the South East Business & Innovation Center.
Conference Program
09:00 – 09:30
Reception of participants and welcome
09:30 – 09:45
Institutional Opening
- Ángela Pumariega. Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Economy, Employment, Tourism, and Innovation of the Gijón City Council.
- Ruperto Iglesias. President of ASATA.
- José Ignacio Asensio, Deputy for Sustainability of Gipuzkoa.
- Nieves Roqueñi, Minister of Ecological Transition, Industry, and Economic Development of the Principality of Asturias.
09:45 – 10:40
Presentation of the Blue Point Project: Turning the Fight Against Plastic Pollution into Business Opportunities
The Blue Point Project aims to transform plastic pollution into a source of economic development and employment through the circular economy. In this session, the work done so far and the project’s future projections will be presented, showing how it is shaping up as a key opportunity to boost the blue economy.
- Nerea Eguia. General Directorate of Ecological Transition of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.
- Unai De Vicente. Circular Business Development & Innovation Researcher at the Mondragon University Research Center (MIK).
- Javier Barro. Sustainability Coordinator at the Asturian Association of Associated Labor Societies (ASATA).
10:40 – 11:35
Blue Economy: Emerging Technologies, Business Trends, and Sustainability
This panel will explore emerging technologies and new business trends within the blue economy sector, with a focus on innovation and sustainable development.
Modera: Rubén González. Director of the Superior School of Civil Marine Engineering of Gijón and Director of the Gijón Azul Chair.
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Ponentes:
- Mónica Pedreira. Director of Ecological Transition at the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.
- Ramón Bernardo de la Rúa. Director of the Plastics, Active Materials, and Surfaces Department at IDONIAL
- Ginés Moyano Collado. Civil Engineer at EXCADE
11:35 – 12:05
Coffee Break
12:05 – 13:00
Round Table: Challenges and Opportunities in the Fight Against Marine Plastics
This roundtable will explore how science, technology, and collaboration are driving innovation in emerging sustainable sectors and providing solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis.
Moderator: Yolanda Molares. Director of the Institute for Sustainable Business Growth.
Ponencias
- Ana J. Abascal Santillana. Researcher at the Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of the University of Cantabria (IHCantabria).
- Joseph Alexander Christie. Professor at the University of the Balearic Islands and Marine Plastics Researcher.
- Laura Miralles. Biologist and Researcher at the University of Oviedo.
13:00 – 13:30
Conclusions and Closing
Miguel G. Lastra, Manager of ASATA
