Economic activities are painted in colors to include more sectors

These models differ from the linear one by putting people and nature over capital. The green, orange, and purple economies are the most popular.

The green economy was the first to make its way more than ten years ago, when economic activities related to the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services that did not mean environmental and ecological impact began to gain notoriety thanks to the concept of sustainable development. . Over the years, other colors have been added to this classification, which unlike the linear economy, locates both the actors and the elements that move the economy on capital.

Besides green, orange is another color that has managed to gain popularity. Its link with creativity and the one that seeks to promote activities related to art and intellectual property have motivated governments in the region to implement measures such as exempting certain services from VAT. In Ecuador this economy represented 1.93% of GDP in 2019.

Other colors, such as red, yellow, blue, gray and black, are also part of this classification, as well as other last additions that seek to support more vulnerable groups, such as women in the case of purple or women. seniors in the silver.

For the latter, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) seeks at the regional level to find and support innovative solutions that facilitate the growing population of older adults, further exposed by COVID-19, to become an engine of social inclusion and recovery economical. The organization maintains an open call until the end of July to finance, with amounts between $ 300,000 and $ 2'000,000, business models with innovative solutions.

“This call will allow us to identify more innovative solutions for the vulnerable population of the elderly, and invite different actors, whether they are startups, civil society or public agencies, to think and act on this challenge and opportunity, ”says Irene Arias, CEO of IDB Lab.

In the case of Ecuador, it is considered that the classification is still in the process of being consolidated and only some of these colors have become popular.

José Javier Guarderas, general manager of Total Environmental Solutions (Sambito), says that the color classification of the economy is important, because “they differ from traditional economies since they are not interpreted sectorally with the main objective of generating wealth, but of prioritize the reduction of inequalities, guarantee human rights and protect natural resources ”.

“The main advantage of color economies is to put people and nature over capital. They seek to modify linear and unsustainable consumption models for models that allow us to extend the life of the planet,” says Guarderas, adding that this trend started in the country due to the green economy and that Sambito works so that companies see in this model a opportunity to add sustainability to your line of business.

“We have carried out approximately 2,500 projects of different kinds… One of the ones that generates the greatest impact is Seginus and Recoil, for the management of used tires and lubricating oil and used containers… Seginus welcomes more than 2,500 actors in different categories throughout the management chain, and Recoil to more than 10,000″, he comments.

For María Gabriela Campoverde, director of the National Intellectual Rights Service (Senadi), creating in the user's mind that a color represents a certain economic sector is a great challenge, although she says that it can contribute to becoming a great development plan.brandingandof teams of two or more people. A single person with their business can also participate.in the case of the orange economy, with which it has been linked for a decade.

“It is an extremely titanic task, because it is about positioning a kind of color brand in the mind of the public… Since 2011 I have worked to consolidate the orange economy, to identify the creative and cultural sectors as inexhaustible sources of social well-being, a source of employment, creation of wealth and cultural heritage, through the generation, protection and exploitation of intellectual property”, says the official, whose main projects include “My name is Montecristi”, which promoted the Ecuadorian hat, declared as a cultural heritage of humanity.

María José Zambrano, president of the Organization and Promotion of the Violet Economy (OPEV), another color that is gaining popularity, highlights the importance of this classification, and says that specifically “the red, green, blue, and violet economic models are each increasingly relevant to describe the economic evolution that the world will require in the coming years”.

The organization led by Zambrano has developed, since its creation in February 2020, research and data collection with a gender perspective in collaboration with the Superintendence of Companies. They have participated in the technical table for the construction of the Organic Law Project to Promote the Work of Women and the Violet Economy, promoted by the previous Government. Currently working on the campaignData For Equality,that seeks to improve female participation in labor markets.

These three representatives immersed in the economy of these colors agree that it is essential that the current government strengthen this classification of economic activities.

“I am sure that the decisions that the Government makes will respond to the comprehensive plan of the Ecological Transition that the country is experiencing,” says Guarderas, and assures that the private sector will continue to put its shoulder so that economic development is aligned with the Objectives of Sustainable development.

For his part, Campoverde says that from Senadi he will seek to create platforms and activities to promote the orange economy in all sectors where human creation, talent and ingenuity intervene, with training for the audiovisual, literary, musical, gastronomic,software, fashion and others.