It’s been three years and four editions of this unprecedented project in Latin America. The Latam Circular Economy School, organized by the Enel Group's subsidiaries in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, added more than 120 new participants this year, including company employees and stakeholders from 8 countries. The fourth version began at the end of May and had its closing ceremony on Thursday, June 23.
"This instance has great value for our company, as it offers a unique space for training, conversation, and collaboration around circular action in the region. The program aims for participants to learn about the new economic model proposed by Circular Economy. We also want to deliver our strategy, comprehensive vision, business application along the value chain, and its benefits towards regional development and competitiveness," explained Natalia Correa, Head of Circular Economy at Enel Chile.
Among its participants, the 2022 version had 20 collaborators from Enel Chile and ten external guests from our country. They addressed introductory topics on Circular Economy, Enel's circular strategy, circular business models, metrics for circularity, circular cities, and territories, and energy sector lines of business.
The closing of the 2022 edition counted with the participation of Carlos Karamanian, creator of La Casa G: the Sustainable House in Argentina, one of the most ecological houses in Latin America.
"Today, there are incentives to move towards electrification, and governments are supporting programs to make our homes more sustainable. These tested models prove that technology replacement programs are truly cost-effective," Karamanian said during the ceremony.
Consuelo Castillo, head of Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service at Enel Generación Chile, highlighted the importance of the lessons learned at the Circular Economy School for the performance of her role within the company.
"Challenges raised by a Circular Economy are pivotal. We have a responsibility to change our thinking to be more circular. Customers look to Enel as a strategic partner to help them develop more sustainably. As we push towards a circular economy, consumers feel supported and guided by us to discover what they can do within their companies and daily lives," he explained.
Correa added, "as a company, we have developed circular solutions that create value for the company and our society. Some changes include electromobility, agrivoltaic projects, methodologies measuring the circularity potential of cities, and integration from the design of photovoltaic technology in buildings, among others. And we are clear that, in this transition, which is systemic, public-private collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge are fundamental".
With the closing of the 2022 version, the Latam Circular Economy School has had more than 470 participants since its creation in 2020.