Delphi Forum: The circular economy to be integrated into the DNA of business

Regarding the goal set by the government within the next two years to eliminate the disgraceful fines for illegal landfills, the secretary general for Energy, Manolis Grafakos spoke, among other things, in the context of the 7th Delphi Forum that is taking place April 6-9. He characteristically stated: "We want to leave behind the management of yesterday. The national waste management plan has been drafted and is in force. We were champions in illegal landfills. We have reduced the fines by 40%. The government wants to enable citizens who want to separate waste. And it motivates them. I want to be fair. The drop in fines began with the previous government eight years ago. We want to believe that we will close the illegal landfills."

George Kremlis, director of the European Commission for issues of circular economy and insularity, said that the government is already attempting an institutional transition to the circular economy and we should talk about circular tourism and circular entrepreneurship. There are, however, still several steps to be taken. "Our country needs units for the utilization of recyclable materials, which are either exported or burned. Think about financial bleeding and the environmental footprint. Businesses need to adapt to the cyclical economy model. There are resources in the waste and we can not throw them awy," he said.

Businesses

Politicians passed the baton to business representatives, who talked about the ways in which the success of the circular economy and recycling targets is possible.

Lavrentis Albertis, General Manager, Polygreen Group of Companies, stressed the mobilizing logic of the company he represents with the motto "zero waste is not a concept, it can become a reality". He gave the example of the...