Circular Experience 2024 Brings Together Experts and Promotes Immersion in Circular Practices

Organized by the Circular Movement and supported by Scania, the in-person event in São Paulo fostered discussions and exchanges about challenges and solutions for transitioning toward a more circular society.

By Arlene Carvalho, from the Circular Movement

Innovation and Pathways to Circularity was the theme of Circular Experience 2024, held last week in São Paulo. Organized by the Circular Movement and supported by Scania, the event brought together around 130 guests and partners, filling the auditorium of Unibes Cultural for meaningful debates and exchanges about the challenges and opportunities in building a circular society.

The morning discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships at the core of actions that promote circularity. According to Vinicius Saraceni, General Director of the Circular Movement, Circular Experience serves as a space for meaningful conversations about the importance and pathways for transitioning to a Circular Economy.

“We bring together experts in the field, the community, and aim to concretely demonstrate how, through collaboration, we can build a progressively circular society. This well-structured event ensures meaningful conversations happen and allows us to channel the energy, focus, and dedication of brilliant minds to drive transformation across different sectors,” he stated.

Patrícia Acioli, Scania's Sustainability Director, reiterated the importance of connecting different links in the chain and the content they bring.

“Moments like this are extremely valuable, providing a way to integrate the private sector, public sector, and academia toward the transformations that need to take place. There are countless possibilities, and showcasing these pathways is a tangible way to drive change.”

Fábio Arcanjo, Communication Leader for the Plastics and Specialty Plastics Business at Dow in Latin America, a pioneering partner of the Circular Movement, highlighted the intrinsic connection between the Circular Experience and the Circular Movement itself.

“When we started creating the Circular Movement nearly five years ago, we envisioned this forum—this major gathering of different supply chains, industries, companies, associations, and governments. Today, we have representatives from the private sector, public sector, and civil society all participating. We envisioned the Circular Movement as a great bridge enabling the Circular Economy to happen through collaboration. After all, the Circular Economy cannot exist in isolation—it won’t thrive in silos, across different industries, or with a single company working alone. We need moments like these. Having the Circular Experience and fostering these exchanges allows us to make continuous progress and advance the evolution of the Circular Economy in our society,” he explained.

Panels

Moderated by Saraceni, the first panel focused on the theme: "Opportunities and Challenges in Building a Circular Society" and discussed Circular Economy in Brazil. The conversation featured Flávio Ribeiro, G20 consultant and ambassador for the Circular Movement, and Natália Biesiada, Circular Economy Coordinator at InvestSP. It revolved around the main challenges of implementing circular practices across different sectors, showcasing successful initiatives and concrete strategies to strengthen circularity in the country, with an emphasis on public-private sector collaboration and advancing innovative solutions.

The second panel, moderated by Scania's Sustainability Director, addressed the relationship between "Transport, Innovation, and Circularity." The discussion included experts such as Arthur Rufino, CEO of Octa; Carolina Pecorari, Sustainability and ESG Executive at Ultragaz; and Euzébio Silveira, representative of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI). The speakers highlighted success stories and technological innovations that are redefining logistics and transportation in Brazil, focusing on the transition to more sustainable and circular models.

Patrícia highlighted that the agenda of sustainable transport has been present at Scania since 2016 and that the company has been working not only to create an agenda but also to ensure it generates value for its clients and stakeholders.

“There are new concepts of scalability and monetization of our business through the lens of the Circular Economy. When we joined the Circular Movement during the pandemic, the reality was very different from today. That’s why it is gratifying to see the evolution of companies and society regarding circularity,” she emphasized.

The event took place on World Sustainable Transport Day, as defined by the United Nations, and also included a luncheon that provided attendees with a strategic opportunity to strengthen connections and expand partnerships.

Check out the Instagram highlights for full coverage of the event.

Scania Factory Tour

In the afternoon, a group of about 20 people had the opportunity to visit Scania's factory in São Bernardo do Campo. The facility, which sustainably manages 98.5% of its waste, hosted an exclusive tour through its main production areas, showcasing the innovative practices that earned Scania its Zero Waste certification.

During the visit, participants learned about initiatives focused on waste reduction, material reintegration into the production cycle, and technological solutions that position Scania at the forefront of industrial circularity.

At the end of the day, the Circular Experience 2024 stood out as a benchmark event, featuring enriching discussions, strategic networking, and hands-on immersion in industrial circularity. It served as a true inspiration for new initiatives and a firm step toward a more circular society.

2025: The Year of the Circular Economy

One topic resonated throughout the event: 2025 as the year of the Circular Economy. According to experts, it will be a pivotal year to solidify the transition to Circular Economy models, culminating in initiatives launched in prior years, such as 2022 and 2023. As explained by the ambassador and pedagogical coordinator of the Circular Movement, Prof. Dr. Edson Grandisoli:

"This will be a crucial year, particularly in the context of major global events highlighting circularity, such as the World Circular Economy Forum and COP30. However, for this transformation to be truly effective, it’s essential to engage more sectors of society, additional stakeholders, and social actors. A democratic and active participation in this dialogue is key to building a more circular future."

Patrícia emphasized that it is a "critical period for the topic and for the stakeholders involved, who need to position themselves and present concrete actions." Saraceni added that, beyond the upcoming events, significant global guidelines and agreements are advancing the promotion of circularity. He pointed out that the topic is already present in society, industry, and Brazil’s innovation agenda, supported by various mechanisms ensuring the transition toward an increasingly circular society.