Porto (Portugal), 9-10 September 2025 – The European Confederation of the Leather Industry COTANCE has launched SYMBIOS, a new Erasmus+ project exploring industrial symbiosis between the agrifood and leather sectors. The project’s mission is to design a replicable model that will boost Europe’s ecological transition and reinforce the circular economy.
The SYMBIOS consortium will conduct in-depth research into regulatory frameworks, existing practices, and future potential of industrial symbiosis in these sectors. One of its main deliverables will be a digital platform designed to connect companies, provide training, and support professional development in the Green & Circular Economy.
Together with SPIN360, COTANCE will lead the leather-sector activities, organizing focus groups across the supply chain and coordinating surveys, interviews, and literature reviews to identify real opportunities for collaboration.
Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary-General of COTANCE, stated:
“SYMBIOS comes at a critical time for the leather industry. Industrial symbiosis has the potential to transform sustainability into a shared opportunity. By moving forward together, agrifood and leather will reinforce their leadership role in Europe’s green and circular economy.”
Project Partners:
- Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique (UPT) – Portugal
- IATA – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Spain
- COTANCE – France/Belgium
- Cisita Parma scarl – Italy
- SPIN 360 SRL – Italy
- Gospodarska Zbornica Slovenije – Slovenia
