Porto's circular economy inspires Catalonia's Mayors

18/11/2024

A delegation of Mayors from the Catalan Association of Municipalities visited Porto last Thursday to learn about the city’s circular economy strategy. Mayor Rui Moreira received the main municipal organisation in the Spanish region at the City Hall.

Circular economy is one of the key themes in Porto’s medium and long-term municipal environmental strategy, inspiring other cities. This Thursday, it was the turn of a delegation from the Catalan Association of Municipalities, led by Meritxell Budó, to see for themselves what has been done at the Invicta in this area.

Deputy Mayor Filipe Araújo outlined the city’s main circular economy priorities, which aim to regenerate ecosystems, in a presentation at the City Hall.

Filipe Araújo, also Councillor for the Environment and Climate Transition, explained that food system circularity and urban water cycle management, sustainable construction incentives, bio-waste valorisation, repairability, and the reuse of resources are some of the municipality’s main concerns.

The Councillor presented also the different projects and initiatives that the city is taking part in, making Invicta a growingly sustainable place. That is the case with the Porto Climate Pact, the reBOOT programme or Eco Porto. The urban vegetable gardens and the organic produce fairs were also identified as sustainable consumption options.

The Mayors of Catalonia also had the opportunity to visit the Porto Ambiente municipal company and Eco Porto – which, more than just a workshop for repairing household appliances, furniture and computers, is a training and capacity-building centre for any citizen who wants to learn how to recover objects and equipment they have at home.

Earlier this week, the Mayor of Porto received the leader of Foment del Treball, Josep Sánchez Llibre, showing that the two Iberian regions are closer than ever.