On 19 September 2024, Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country (Spain), marked a significant milestone in its environmental and economic journey with the launch of its 2024-2027 Circular Economy Action Plan. The city also formally endorsed the Circular Cities Declaration, becoming the 85th European city to join the initiative and further solidifying its commitment to reducing resource use and minimising environmental impact through circular practices.
The 2024-2027 Action Plan is a cornerstone of Vitoria-Gasteiz’s broader 2030 Circular Economy Strategy, which aims to shift the city towards a sustainable economic model—one that decouples growth and social well-being from resource depletion, while aligning with Europe's climate neutrality goals.
The plan targets three critical sectors: construction, repair and remanufacturing, and organic waste management. In construction, an industry known for its heavy resource consumption, the focus will be on closing the waste loop, ensuring materials from construction and demolition are repurposed and reused. The repair, restyling, and remanufacturing sectors will play a crucial role in extending product life cycles, with initiatives aimed at both businesses and consumers. Organic waste management is also a key area, with emphasis on efficient composting and reuse methods to significantly reduce waste.
At the heart of the strategy are five overarching goals that will steer the city’s progress: reducing raw material consumption, improving material productivity, enhancing citizens' well-being through cleaner urban environments, increasing the use of circular materials, and cutting waste generation. To achieve these objectives, the plan incorporates six lines of action, including promoting innovation, advancing ecodesign, encouraging circular consumption habits, and improving data management.
The action plan outlines 25 primary actions and 70 sub-actions aimed to foster industrial symbiosis, support circular entrepreneurship, introduce circular procurement criteria, engage citizens in circular economy practices, and improve waste collection systems. A robust framework for monitoring and evaluation is in place to track progress and ensure adjustments are made as needed.
This initiative builds on Vitoria-Gasteiz’s long-standing environmental leadership. As the European Green Capital in 2012, the city has prioritised green infrastructure, sustainable mobility and nature-based solutions. The new Action Plan continues this legacy, placing a stronger focus on embedding circular economy principles into all aspects of urban life, and helping in the decarbonisation of the city, a milestone that the city has planned for 2030.
The development of the plan involved collaboration with national and international experts, local businesses, and community stakeholders. The city also strengthened partnerships with key organisations such as ICLEI Europe, the Circle Economy Foundation, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
“With this endorsement the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz confirms that the transition from a linear to a circular economy is fundamental to decouple economic growth from the use of resources and to achieve a climate-neutral, fair and prosperous society.” notes Maider Etxebarria, Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz and Vice President of ICLEI Europe.
By endorsing the Circular Cities Declaration and launching its 2024-2027 Action Plan, Vitoria-Gasteiz is positioning itself as a model for other European cities to follow. The city’s efforts are not only driving it closer to its 2030 sustainability targets but also helping to set a global standard for responsible resource management and environmental stewardship.