NTWK Summit 2024: Innovating through collaboration and circular economy
The NTWK Summit 2024, hosted in the vibrant city of Barcelona at the historical Casa Llotja de Mar, stands as a beacon of innovation and collaboration in the realm of digital business ecosystems. This premier event, spanning from May 28-29 with additional activities on surrounding days, attracts over 500 leaders, thinkers, and creators. It is dedicated to exploring the transformative impacts of platform and ecosystem models in the digital age. With a robust agenda featuring expert panels, networking sessions, and keynotes, the summit provides a unique convergence for participants to share insights and forge strategic alliances under the banner of technological and sustainable advancement.
Unveiling the power of circular economy and collaborative innovation
At this year's summit, a standout presentation highlighted an exemplary project by three companies ABB, La Farga and Celsa - each of them pioneers in their sectors - who have embarked on a journey to revolutionize sustainability practices through circular economy principles. The session, led by Sandra Vidal, Country Sustainability Manager of ABB in Spain and ABB Motion Sustainability Lead, Southern Europe, Carles Camprubí, Chief Circularity Officer of La Farga and Narcís Giralt, News Products and Circularity Head of Celsa, showcased their collaborative efforts to tackle waste management and enhance sustainability across industries.
Sandra, when shaping ABB for the audience, highlighted the “ambitious goals of ABB in terms of sustainability which include helping customers to reduce their footprint through the company technological solutions.”
Carles, introducing his company, noted, "La Farga is a 215 year-old copper foundry that has been pioneering sustainable business models since the mid-80s." He proudly holds the role of Chief Circularity Officer, driving the company's strategy towards circularity in supply chains and business models.
Narcís, representing Celsa, shared their longstanding commitment to circularity, "for over 60 years, Celsa has utilized technology that recycles scrap to produce steel, embedding circularity in our processes long before it became a trend."
The Genesis of a Groundbreaking Collaboration
The collaboration originated from a casual discussion during a coffee break in the context of the first Energy Efficiency Symposium hosted by ABB in 2023. This encounter sparked a realization among the three companies of their aligned sustainability goals. They saw an opportunity to amplify their impact by integrating their technologies and expertise rather than pursuing independent efforts.
Carles elaborated on the ethos of their partnership: "We aim to create not just a profitable business but one that delivers dual benefits - economic and sustainable - to our customers." This statement encapsulates the core advantage of their collaborative project.
The Project: A paradigm of circular economy
The project centers on the innovative use of high-efficiency motors that consume less energy and, in turn, reduce CO2 emissions. The old motors are collected and handed over to La Farga and Celsa, where they are dismantled and the materials recycled.
"This isn’t just about managing waste. It’s about redefining it," explained Sandra Vidal. "By recycling these materials, we’re eliminating the need to extract raw materials, thereby saving on CO2 emissions, energy, and water."
"This isn’t just about managing waste. It’s about redefining it. By recycling these materials, we’re eliminating the need to extract raw materials, thereby saving on CO2 emissions, energy, and water."
The Double Benefit: Economic and environmental gains
One of the unique aspects of this project is the economic benefit it offers to customers. By taking back old motors, the companies can offer new ones at a lower cost due to the inherent value of the recycled materials. Additionally, they provide a sustainability certificate that customers can include in their sustainability reports, demonstrating tangible reductions in CO2, energy, and water usage.
Carles highlighted, "In La Farga, we believe deeply in collaboration, especially for tackling complex challenges like climate change and energy transition. Collaboration is the only way to address these efficiently and effectively."
Ensuring transparency and trust
The collaboration also emphasizes transparency and trust, crucial elements in today’s sustainability-driven market. By controlling the recycling process themselves, they assure customers of the traceability and integrity of the recycled materials.
"This transparency is vital. It allows us to guarantee that the materials are indeed recycled and not lost in the myriad steps of a complex supply chain.", Narcís added.
Conclusion: A model for future endeavors
The NTWK Summit 2024 serves as a platform not only for sharing such innovative practices but also for inspiring other companies to consider similar collaborative models that blend economic viability with environmental responsibility. The project presented by ABB, La Farga and Celsa exemplifies how traditional industries can adapt and thrive by embracing circular economy principles, showcasing a path forward that others might follow to achieve sustainability and business success in tandem.
