New Partnership Aims To Boost Circular Economy In Puerto Rico

A New Strategic Partnership to Boost Circular Economy Innovation in Puerto Rico

A new strategic partnership aims to boost the circular economy innovation on the island of Puerto Rico to convert unmanaged or landfilled items, such as sargassum seaweed, plastics, and tires, into new products.

Recruiting Entrepreneurs and Early-Stage Companies

The New York-based technology center, Newlab, and the island’s economic development organization, Invest Puerto Rico, are recruiting entrepreneurs and early-stage companies to pilot innovative waste conversion solutions.

Reducing Landfill Waste and Unlocking Renewable Life Cycles

The aim is to reduce landfill waste, unlock the potential for renewable life cycles of materials, such as end-of-life tires, waste plastics, and sargassum seaweed, and turn these items into valuable resources.

Sargassum Seaweed and Tires as Key Waste Streams

Sargassum is a seaweed whose excess growth in recent years is affecting the coastal ecosystems and communities of Puerto Rico and other nearby Caribbean islands. Tires are another damaging waste stream in Puerto Rico, with almost 18,000 tires being disposed every day on the island.

Advancements in Recycling Technologies and Circular Design Principles

By harnessing advancements in recycling technologies and circular design principles, the partners seek to make plastic recycling viable in Puerto Rico to alleviate the issues around plastic waste and reduce dependency on imports.

Newlab’s Expertise in Sustainability Challenges

Newlab specializes in turning transformative ideas and technologies into real-world solutions for critical sustainability challenges across materials, energy, and mobility. Previous Newlab collaborations include working with Ford, Verizon, LG, Orsted, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Mercado Libre, among others, to develop breakthrough solutions for global challenges.

Progress and Future Plans

The initiative has so far included scoping and discovery research, convening stakeholders, pilot conceptualization, and partnership development. The effort has laid the groundwork for the execution of pilot projects, which are scheduled to be launched later this year.

A Significant Step Forward for Sustainable Economic Development

In a statement, Invest Puerto Rico’s director of strategy and research, John Bozek, said the partnership represents a “significant step forward in our efforts to promote sustainable economic development and innovation” on the island. He added that this collaboration can help alleviate the island’s waste management problem through innovative solutions, create new economic opportunities for local businesses, and serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges.

Puerto Rico’s Diverse Economy and Innovation Ecosystem

The CEO of Invest Puerto Rico, Ella Woger-Nieves, highlighted that although many might associate the island with tourism, Puerto Rico’s economy is primarily based on manufacturing and knowledge services. In fact, the island is the largest exporter of biopharmaceuticals in the United States. She emphasized the thriving innovation entrepreneurship ecosystem on the island and mentioned that many of the waste challenges being faced in Puerto Rico are not unique. The goal is to create a blueprint for other islands and global communities to become more sustainable and self-reliant.

Creating Localized Value Streams and Driving Economic Development

Satish Rao, chief product officer at Newlab, expressed the “local momentum” on the island to address waste and circularity issues. He stated that if a value chain can be created where waste collection leads to the production of new products, it could generate localized value streams on the island, which would be an incredible driver of economic development.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
• SDG 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
• SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 12.5: Waste generation per capita
• Indicator for SDG 14.1: Amount of marine debris and nutrient pollution
• Indicator for SDG 17.17: Number of partnerships formed for sustainable economic development and innovation

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

The article addresses the issues of waste management, circular economy, and sustainable economic development on the island of Puerto Rico. These issues are connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) is relevant as it aims to reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. SDG 14 (Life Below Water) is also relevant as it focuses on preventing and reducing marine pollution, including marine debris. Lastly, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) is addressed as the article highlights the partnership between Newlab and Invest Puerto Rico to promote sustainable economic development and innovation.

Based on the article’s content, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. Target 12.5 of SDG 12 aims to substantially reduce waste generation by 2030 through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. Target 14.1 of SDG 14 focuses on preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution, including marine debris and nutrient pollution, by 2025. Target 17.17 of SDG 17 encourages and promotes effective partnerships for sustainable economic development and innovation.

The article mentions or implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. For SDG 12.5, the indicator mentioned is waste generation per capita, which can measure the reduction in waste generation over time. For SDG 14.1, the indicator mentioned is the amount of marine debris and nutrient pollution, which can track the progress in reducing pollution in marine ecosystems. For SDG 17.17, the indicator mentioned is the number of partnerships formed for sustainable economic development and innovation, which can assess the level of collaboration and engagement in achieving the target.

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Source: forbes.com

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