Corporate Circular Economy Plans

What a circular economy plan is

A circular economy plan is the instrument that guides the transition of an organisation, sector or territory from the linear economic model — extract, produce, use and dispose — to a circular model in which materials and resources are kept in use for as long as possible, minimising waste generation and virgin resource consumption. It is based on the principles of reduction, reuse, repair, recycling and recovery.

In Spain, the circular economy is set out in the Spanish Circular Economy Strategy (España Circular 2030) and in Spanish Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soil for a circular economy, which transposes EU waste directives and reinforces the waste management hierarchy; equivalent national strategies and transposing legislation apply across other EU member states under the same European framework.

When it is needed

• When a local authority wants to drive the circular economy forward in its territory or comply with the targets of Spanish Law 7/2022.
• For companies seeking to reduce resource consumption and waste, improve competitiveness, or respond to client and financing requirements.
• As part of a corporate sustainability strategy or a sector plan (industry, tourism, construction).
• To access funding lines linked to the circular transition.

Methodology

1. Assessment of material, water, energy and waste flows of the organisation or territory.
2. Identification of circularity opportunities: source reduction, reuse, industrial symbiosis, ecodesign, recovery.
3. Definition of prioritised, quantified objectives and action areas.
4. Action programme with budget, responsible parties and timeline.
5. Circularity indicator system for monitoring and evaluation.

Common mistakes

• Reducing the circular economy to waste management, ignoring source reduction and ecodesign, which sit at the top of the waste hierarchy.
• Setting objectives that are not quantified, making it impossible to measure real progress.
• Failing to base the plan on a real flow assessment, resulting in actions misaligned with actual impacts.
• Omitting monitoring indicators, essential for management and for demonstrating progress.

Why choose Ideas Medioambientales

We prepare circular economy plans for local authorities, companies and industries, combining technical flow assessment with knowledge of waste regulation and funding instruments. Our approach prioritises the highest-impact actions and equips them with measurable indicators, keeping the plan focused on real delivery.

Tell us about your organisation or territory and the aim of the plan and we'll propose a tailored approach.