In the same way, "all sectors, particularly those related to mechanical workshops, are affected by these changes and are racing towards a more sustainable economy", mentioned the representative from CONEPA, who focused on a culture of return and renovation of products and their components.

"The activity of the workshops, considered to be potentially dangerous, is subject to a cascade of legislation to which they must adapt, including all upcoming legislative changes that are related to waste management and sustainability. For this reason, the regulations are, in his opinion, the main challenge to be faced by the workshops. For example, the Spanish Circular Economy Strategy, which is still a draft, "implies the modification of numerous directives, the elaboration of strategies and orientations that must be transferred to the Spanish legal system and some of which will directly or indirectly affect the workshops due to the environmental impact of their activity", he explained.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the workshops "are aware of the fundamental role that they play, not only in waste management but also in other factors with an environmental impact such as soil or atmosphere, as this sector is heavily inspected and legislated".

In the words of the environmental journalist representative, citizens have a real interest in news related to the environment and sustainability, adding that "it is our responsibility, as professionals, to seek interesting and new information and to prepare attractive information that attracts the attention of the audience, placing the environment in the position it deserves in the news, as it is transversal to many other topics such as the economy or business management".

In this sense, the Circular Economy "is a very importance source of interesting, diverse and positive news related to the environment". "Because goods news in this regard, must also be news", mentioned the APIA representative. For this reason, "it is fundamental for companies that are contributing to this progress to communicate that they are doing so, because they are examples of good practices and a means of environmental awareness and distribution", he underlined.

ADVANTAGES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

As an example of the environmental and economic advantages generated by a focus on Circular Economy, the SIGAUS representative referred to the environmental benefits achieved thanks to the recovery of used industrial oil in 2017, which are very significant if we consider the high quantity of waste managed each year: The used oil collected last year, 134,508 tonnes, is the equivalent of the capacity of almost 4,600 maritime merchandise containers that, transported by train, would have a length of almost 31,800 meters,

After submitting almost 94,000 tonnes of the total collected to the regeneration treatment, it was possible to return approximately 62,500 tonnes of lubricants to the market, that would be sufficient to fill the tank in 15.4 million cars, which would be two thirds of all of the cars in Spain. On the other hand, if we compare the regeneration of used oil with the generation of the same quantity of oil based on first oil refining, in 2017 we avoided the emission of 45,055 t of CO₂ to the atmosphere, the same amount that would be produced by 108 return trips from Madrid to New York in one of the largest passenger planes that cover this route.

The mechanical workshops participate very actively in this work, and for them SIGAUS has a Partner Workshop Programme, through which the Entity grants a logo to the establishments that work in compliance with the regulations regarding the management of used oil, "thus making the support from SIGAUS for these establishments visible, without which our work would not be possible", mentioned Fermín Martínez de Hurtado.

To conclude, the SIGAUS representative stated that, since 2010, the Entity has focused on prevention through the Business Plans, created to promote measures that reduce the impact of lubricants on the environment. Since then, some 4,460 preventive measures have been implemented related to the manufacture of less contaminating oils, the inclusion of regenerated bases in the formulation of new oils or the commercialization of biodegradable oils, among many others, and which the companies report to the Entity each year.

"This year we have launched a new plan, with a validity of 4 years, which will take place from 2018 to 2021, and with which we hope to continue working on these lines", concluded Fermín Martínez de Hurtado.