Marbella Hosts the 1st Circular Economy Forum: Pioneering Sustainable Tourism and Construction
- The Pool will host this innovative forum on 6th November, bringing together international experts to explore new opportunities for sustainable growth in tourism and construction — focusing on smart resource management, reducing emissions, and creating a cleaner, more responsible future for all.
- The event, organized by CleanTech – The Pool’s hub – together with Marbella City Council as coordinator and main collaborator, will have Innovación Activa as Event Manager.
- The mobility challenge on the Costa del Sol will be analyzed, seeking solutions to make Marbella a competitive tourist destination and enable this connectivity to increase construction while reducing pressure on existing infrastructure.
Marbella, October 28th, 2025. The Pool will, together with their Cleantech Hub and Marbella City Council and and Innovación Activa, host this innovative meeting on the 6th of November. A pioneering event that will focus on how to utilize the opportunities with new sustainable and circular practices of two of Marbella’s main economic drivers: tourism and construction. The event will bring together international experts, institutions, and social stakeholders to analyze innovative solutions that allow for maintaining economic growth without compromising the natural environment, inviting all actors in the sector to take part in the open discussion.
“At Marbella City Council, we want to promote initiatives that generate a real impact on our economic and tourism model. This forum is an opportunity to place Marbella at the forefront of sustainability, promoting responsible growth that protects our natural resources and fosters business innovation,” said Alejandro Freijo, head of the Economic Development and Employment Department at Marbella City Council.
The 1st Circular Economy Forum does not aim to remain an isolated event. Its objective is to promote a Permanent Working Group, in collaboration with the Marbella City Council, which will hold quarterly meetings in order to continue the proposals raised during the meeting. This commitment will be complemented by the creation of strategic alliances between major hotel companies, construction companies, and companies dedicated to sustainable and circular solutions, fostering synergies that accelerate the transition toward a more resilient economy.
“Marbella has the opportunity to lead a paradigm shift. This forum represents a unique chance to open a constructive dialogue between key sectors for Marbella, such as construction and tourism. At Grupo Innovación Activa, we believe that the circular economy is not only an environmental necessity, but also a lever for innovation and competitiveness that will allow our city to position itself as a benchmark in sustainability at the national and international level”, says Julio Ortega, founder and CEO of Innovación Activa and Event Manager of the meeting.
“The circular economy is valued at $4.5 trillion by 2030 and will generate a large number of jobs. It is essential that the construction and tourism sectors in Spain learn to benefit from this,” says Elin Bergman, underscoring the importance of this forum, which inaugurates a necessary dialogue between innovation, sustainability, and economic development.
Three women star in the 1st Circular Economy Forum
The First Circular Economy Forum will feature three international leaders in innovation and sustainability who will bring a diverse and transformative perspective to the debate on the future of tourism and construction.
The meeting will be moderated by Inés Skotnicka, a professional with more than 20 years of experience in innovation and R&D&I projects. A specialist in entrepreneurship and strategic consulting, Skotnicka has mentored and advised more than 500 projects in the last fifteen years, promoting initiatives that integrate technology, sustainability, and business development.
Among the speakers is Elin Bergman, known for being the “Circular Economy Queen of Sweden”, is named LinkedIn Top Green Voice and is a recognized international TEDx and keynote speaker. She works as a Circular Impact Officer, Vice Chair, and spokesperson of the Swedish circular economy business network Cradlenet, and is also one of the co-founders of the international circular economy initiatives Nordic Circular Hotspot and the Circular Economy Coalition. She has recently started the Circular Handshake initiative to make the retail sector circular.
Also participating will be Anne Raudaskoski, a circular economy pioneer and founder of Re-Generous Unlimited. Anne has an extensive career working with public administrations and private companies to accelerate the circular transition. With more than two decades of experience in teaching, speaking, and training programs, Raudaskoski has led EcoDesign Sprints and Circular Design programs in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russia, establishing herself as one of the most influential voices on sustainable design and the circular economy.
About the Cleantech Hub
The Cleantech Hub is The Pool’s sustainability network, created with the purpose of bringing together companies, professionals, and organizations committed to environmental innovation and the fight against climate change. Its objective is to create a space for active collaboration to share knowledge, promote sustainable projects, and foster the adoption of clean technologies that accelerate the transition to a circular economy. Through its platform, the Clean Tech Hub fosters the exchange of ideas, the creation of investment opportunities, and the development of initiatives that contribute to improving the environment and economic and social well-being in Spain.
https://www.thepool.es/cleantech
About Innovación Activa
Active Innovation is a company specializing in the direction and management of environmental projects in the clean energy, water, circularity, and R&D sectors. Its team promotes sustainable solutions adapted to current demands, fostering the development of green technologies and promoting responsible business practices. Its lines of work include project financing, the implementation of sustainable technologies, and the promotion of the circular economy, with the aim of transforming production models and moving toward a more efficient, competitive, and environmentally friendly future.
