Circular Challenge 2023: Meet the winners of the Spanish edition

A few weeks ago, we told you that we were ready to choose the winners of the Circular Challenge, Spanish edition 2023, and now it's a fact! This initiative, which has been taking place for 3 years in Brazil, took a step further this year and opened up to share the experience with all Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.

It was amazing to receive over 60 projects from educational institutions in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico! Throughout October, we got to know the works that high school and university teachers from each country sent us, to understand their students' ideas and the solutions created to collaborate in creating a more sustainable and circular world.

Today, with much joy, we want to present the three winning projects:

• Project "ComparTEC," a platform to rent tools and various electronic and sports equipment, from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico.

The team behind the creation of the ComparTEC project. Image: Reproduction

• Project "Reuse of electronic cigarette batteries," from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico.

Team behind the "Reuse of Electronic Cigarette Batteries" project. Image: Reproduction

• Project "Naturatex": building blocks made from carpentry waste, from La Inmaculada Concepción, Colombia.

Students responsible for the Naturatex project. Image: Reproduction

And most importantly... These three projects have qualified for the grand final of the Award for a World Without Waste - taking place on December 2nd, in an online event with live streaming. Don't miss it!

According to Marisol Del Toro, Pedagogical Coordinator and representative of the Circular Movement in Latin America, "this type of initiative allows young people to observe their surroundings and identify which environmental and economic problems concern them in their environment, to provide solutions. So, we have very diverse projects, from those concerned with creating a tool library so that people don't have to spend and the tools have a longer usage, to others that propose making use of natural waste that arises as surplus from some productive process in their community."

On the other hand, Roju Santana, Coordinator of the Circular Challenge Latam, comments that "it is very important to see that there are many people in schools and universities involved in making their city a better, more sustainable, and circular place. There were many projects, many ideas, and all that indicates to us that it is possible to change our way of seeing and living in the world."

The diversity of solutions makes us realize that we can all make a difference in our community and "the fact that this edition has been international lets us know that we are not alone, and that there are many people who, even if they are not seen or are not so visible, are also helping," explains Del Toro.

Congratulations to the winners and participants! See you at the grand final to choose the best circular economy project throughout Latin America!