Under the leadership of Grenoble Alpes Métropole, around thirty economic players from the greater Grenoble area participated in the emergence of a network around the circular economy in the region. This network will now be structured in the form of a collegial association whose constitutive general meeting will take place on Thursday February 28, at 4:30 p.m. at Alpexpo. It will be an event within the event – the first 2 Tonnes 50 show – itself part of the well-known Naturissima and Artisa combo.
The emerging association can count on the support of the Grenoble-Alpes, Grésivaudan and Pays Voironnais communities and more than a hundred structures have expressed their interest in participating in this new professional network which will unveil its roadmap on November 28. “Within two years, we would like to resemble Solucir,” says Stéphane Marthe, future administrator in charge of the governance division, with a smile. Solucir is the Savoie Mont-Blanc counterpart network that inspires beyond the Rhône-Alpes borders. “They have succeeded in making the circular economy desirable, raising awareness, encouraging cooperation, getting businesses on board… This is clearly the target. »
Inform, create loops…
Circul'Alpes' mission will be, among other things, to “become a resource center for educating about the circular economy,” continues Régis Meyer-Messié, also in the governance division. Another mission is to create loops and map the different actors to see synergies, so that one person's waste becomes another's resources. » A circle around health has already emerged. “Two meetings have already taken place, a third will be held in December,” indicates Mélanie Alias, researcher at the CEA, happy to see Grenoble getting started and satisfied with the number of structures gathered at the first workshops. “Around ten: companies, labs, the university hospital which is already working to reduce its waste. In fact, many people want to get involved but don't know where to start. »
These are exactly the words of Stéphane Marthe: “I think that Circul’Alpes arrives at the moment when companies have understood that they need to change but do not know how, apart from turning to consulting firms which are… perhaps not biased… But let's say that the advantage of a collective is that it is fairly neutral with freedom of speech. And there is a way to look for a slightly richer material and above all a territorial approach. Something a Parisian firm will not be able to do. »
Everything remains to be done, to be imagined… beyond the waste theme elsewhere. “It could be eco-design, co-development…” continue Régis Meyer and Stéphane Marthe. All economic sectors are welcome from bakery to microelectronics.
