Circular economy is a must today to promote the goals of sustainable development. Chemical Engineering plays a fundamental role in developing circular economy concepts in which the value of resources, materials and products is maintained in the economy for as long as possible.

The circular economy model, unlike the traditional linear economy, extend the value of the materials to minimize the use of raw materials and the generation of wastes. In this model, the recovery and reuse of products and materials play a fundamental role. In this context, industrial symbiosis is a catalyst for the transition to a circular economy, seeking synergies with geographically close companies to jointly find innovative solutions based on maximum efficiency in the use of resources and on mutual benefits.

The circular economy will play a major role to boost the competitiveness of companies against the scarcity of resources and price volatility, and will help to create new opportunities, as well as innovative and more efficient ways of producing and consuming. This symposium intends to bring together researchers, entrepreneurs and industrialists who support ‘sustainable production’ approach, carry out R&D activities, develop new products and processes and wish to communicate their studies to replicate good practices and look for further solutions.

State-of-the-art studies in the following areas are welcome: