On May 22, 2025, the ECOLE project partner POLYMERIS successfully organised an open day and press conference in Oyonnax, located in the heart of the Plastics Vallée in France. The event convened 53 participants, including representatives from the plastics industry, public institutions, and fellow project partners, with the objective of fostering dialogue and collaboration on the development of a resilient, competitive, and circular local economy.
This initiative is in line with the ECOLE project’s broader ambition to design and implement sustainable, intelligent industrial parks in Alpine regions. The Oyonnax meeting specifically focused on applying these goals to the Veyziat industrial zone, serving as a regional case study.
Agenda Highlights:
- 12:00 – 14:00 Networking Cocktail:
Participants were welcomed in an informal setting, enabling early discussions and exchanges among industry representatives and institutional stakeholders. - 14:00 – 14:30 Presentation of the ECOLE Project:
The session provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s objectives and strategic approach, emphasising its relevance to the transformation of industrial areas in Alpine territories through circularity and sustainability. - 14:30 – 16:00 Debate and Experience Sharing:
Facilitated by IPC, this interactive segment explored practical pathways to accelerate circular practices within the Plastics Vallée. Key topics included:- Collective recovery strategies for non-recycled waste
- Improved internal waste sorting mechanisms
- Enhanced access to data on local material flows
This segment encouraged a direct exchange among industrial actors, local authorities, and national agencies, aiming to identify actionable solutions, existing barriers, and shared priorities. The session highlighted a strong willingness across stakeholders to co-develop mechanisms for the pooling, recovery, and reuse of resources.
- 16:00 – 16:30 Closing Coffee:
The event concluded with informal networking, reinforcing partnerships and reflecting on the day’s discussions.
Distinguished Speakers Included:
- Roxane GIRARD – International Partnerships Coordinator, POLYMERIS
- Maxime ANDRE – Innovation Project Officer, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, POLYMERIS
- Raphaël CROIBIER – Project Manager, IPC
- Joël VIRY – President, POLYMERIS
This event marked a significant milestone in the ECOLE project’s implementation phase, reinforcing the importance of territorial collaboration and stakeholder engagement in building more circular, sustainable, and intelligent industrial ecosystems across Alpine Europe.
