In 2024, RECONMATIC and the Circular Construction Cluster (CCCluster) established a strategic liaison with Latin America. This collaboration is designed to foster continuous communication, promote mutual understanding of the current status of circular construction across regions, and exchange knowledge on advancements in the sector.
Today, we are honoured to welcome Mr Julian Ospina, Director of Sustainability at CAMACOL Antioquia, the Colombian Chamber of Construction in Antioquia, to share his insights on circular construction and the role of CAMACOL in driving sustainability initiatives.
What is CAMACOL's role in Circular Construction (CC)?
CAMACOL, the Colombian Chamber of Construction, unites over 1,600 companies across the entire construction industry value chain in Colombia. Through its "Camacol Verde" strategy, the organization prioritises productivity initiatives with a strong focus on circular construction. By implementing measures and actions, CAMACOL aims to empower companies with knowledge and tools to adopt circular economy principles, contributing to a more sustainable and productive industry by 2050.
What is the current status of CC in Latin America?
Latin America has made only preliminary progress regarding circular construction strategies and initiatives. Numerous regulatory and financial barriers limit its advancement. However, there are some promising developments in countries like Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, where the adoption of public policies and circular economy roadmaps have led to interesting progress with significant potential for replication across other countries.
What are your goals and aspirations?
By participating in initiatives like the CCCluster, CAMACOL’s primary goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange and inspire its affiliated companies to embrace new market opportunities where circular economy principles play a central role. The organization has spearheaded the Latin American Alliance for Circular Construction, which brings together organizations and associations from Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This alliance aims to:
Share knowledge and best practices.
Foster benchmarking among industry players.
Encourage the creation of new economies rooted in circularity and sustainability within the construction sector.
What are you seeking in collaboration with EU-funded projects like RECONMATIC?
We aim to exchange experiences and knowledge from successful case studies that can keep our companies updated on trends and circularity strategies in construction. Additionally, we seek to explore potential synergies to support companies in Latin America in adopting strategies and actions to boost these initiatives within the region.
What needs are you looking to address by participating in the CC Cluster?
By participating in the CCCluster, CAMACOL aims to address the following needs:
Training and Capacity Building: Providing companies with technical knowledge and skills related to circular construction.
Technical Assistance: Offering support to implement circular strategies effectively.
Joint Projects: Developing collaborative initiatives to drive impactful results for all parties involved.
The goal is to ensure that the developments generated can be mutually transferred, thereby achieving greater impact and progress on the projects we aim to reach.
Looking Ahead: Tell us about CAMACOL’s Participation in WCEF 2025
CAMACOL is preparing for its participation in the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF 2025), in Brazil, an invitation-only event. The organisation’s primary focus will be on creating opportunities for exchanging experiences and knowledge on circular economy topics. We aim to advance potential alliances that strengthen local networks, which, in turn, would feed into a broader circular economy network focused on construction.
More information (in Spanish) about the alliance is available here.
The article is edited by Georgia Nikolakopoulou, Communication and Dissemination Manager in Future Needs Management Consulting, leading Dissemination and Exploitation for Business and Education in the RECONMATIC project.