Spain Advances Circular Economy with National Plan and Regional Initiatives in 2026
Spain progresses on circular economy goals in 2026 through a national action plan, Andalusian regional strategy, and collaborative working group efforts.
- • Spanish government approved II Plan de Acción de Economía Circular with €1.884 billion investment and 105 measures.
- • Andalucía promotes circular economy through pioneering legislation and over €145 million investment in organic waste management.
- • Circular Economy Working Group at UPM to present 2026 report on best practices at Madrid Cities Forum.
- • Plan emphasizes multi-ministry coordination, public-private collaboration, and addresses governance, just transition, and demographic challenges.
Key details
The Spanish government has approved the ambitious II Plan de Acción de Economía Circular, allocating €1.884 billion toward implementing 105 measures aimed at accelerating the transition to a circular and decarbonized economy. Coordinated by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), this plan unites 12 ministries and over 40 directorates to meet the 2030 targets of the Spanish Circular Economy Strategy. Its five main focus areas include ecodesign, responsible consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials, and water treatment and reuse. Additionally, the plan addresses governance, just transition, demographic challenges, and gender impact, highlighting a holistic approach to sustainability and industrial competitiveness in Spain.
On the regional front, the Andalusian government, led by Minister Catalina García, is vigorously advancing its own circular economy efforts. Andalucía, notable for enacting one of Europe's pioneering Circular Economy Laws, is set to launch a participatory process to develop its regional Circular Economy Strategy. The region has dedicated over €145 million from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan to improve organic waste management—over 40% of municipal waste—and constructed 34 clean points since 2019 with further investments planned. Efforts include subsidizing vehicles for separate waste collection and supporting municipalities in meeting EU waste management objectives, reflecting robust public-private collaboration.
Complementing these policy efforts, a collaborative Circular Economy Working Group has commenced activities at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) to produce a report on best practices for circular economy implementation. Composed of 26 organizations spanning universities, companies, and sector associations, the group aims to showcase successful cases across the circular economy value chain. The report, to be presented by coordinator José Vicente López at the Madrid Cities Forum in June, will provide practical insights alongside discussions on mobility and urban development solutions.
These coordinated efforts—national strategic plans, regional legislative frameworks, and multi-sector collaboration—demonstrate Spain’s commitment to advancing circular economy principles comprehensively in 2026 and beyond.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
