ILS LEDA and the Observatory of Economics Applied to Engineering have collaborated in the publication of the concept note "The Latin American vision of the circular economy". The concept note analyzes the state of circular economy policy, knowledge, and practices in 21 Latin American countries, highlighting how relevant efforts by governments, companies, academies, and civil society are producing significant progress.
On the other hand, it is highlighted that the "local-based circular economy" can get many advantages from proximity, relationships and knowledge, in terms of competitiveness, transaction costs, employment, and resilience, within the framework of the 3R paradigm: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Regarding Latin America, the note reveals that, considering the literature on the argument, there are still many internal and external barriers, which the document visualizes in detail, to finalize useful recommendations for reinforcing the response to the challenge of a Zero Waste society.
The conclusions are that in Latin America Zero Waste can be achieved if politics and action are focused certainly in technological innovation but, before this, in social innovation, the establishment of local coalitions, and working-in-equipe approach, without which there is no appropriate and effective technological innovation.
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