Modelo de economía circular para el sistema de gestión ambiental de la universidad piloto de Colombia

Abstract

The objective of this internship was to develop a circular economy model for the Environmental Management System of the Universidad Piloto de Colombia (SIGEAM), in response to the institutional environmental policy, which establishes, within its guidelines, the implementation of practices that ensure proper waste management. Currently, administrative and academic activities generate recyclable waste that is donated to a foundation that supports children with cancer, which markets it to generate resources for medical treatments. During this process, opportunities for improvement have been identified, particularly with regard to monitoring the social and environmental impact of this initiative. The project was structured in three main phases: in the first, a diagnosis of current recyclable waste management practices was conducted to identify opportunities for improvement; in the second, a management model based on circular economy guidelines was structured; and in the third, a cost-benefit assessment was conducted to determine the economic, social, and environmental viability of the proposed model. The results of the diagnosis allowed the design of a model composed of 5 components: organizational structure, strategic axes (infrastructure, processes and procedures, training and environmental culture, strategic alliances), resource management, monitoring and follow-up, and risk management. These elements will guarantee the viability and sustainability of the model in the long term. The cost-benefit evaluation demonstrated that the project is favorable in the medium term, representing a 27% decrease in current costs. The recycling rate is projected to increase by approximately 50% in five (5) years, meeting the established goals and increasing the contribution per beneficiary of the foundation.