Spain's Circular Economy Progress Slower Than Desired Despite Sustainability Gains

Spain's circular economy continues to advance at a slow pace, with significant room for improvement in material reuse and recycling efforts despite progress in sustainability. According to the 2025 Annual Report from the Circular Economy Observatory, the country's circularity rate stands at only 8.5%, meaning less than one-tenth of materials re-enter the production cycle after use. Additionally, municipal waste recycling remains stagnant at 41%, and circular activities contribute a mere 1.6% to Spain’s gross value added. Dependence on imported materials is high, at 39.8%, indicating vulnerabilities in resource access.

However, the report highlights positive environmental strides: over 50% of Spain's electricity now comes from renewable sources, and greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 12.6% since 1990. Eco-innovation and corporate climate transparency are also improving.

Leandro Barquín, director of Fundación Fórum Ambiental, stresses that the circular economy is crucial not only for environmental sustainability but also for economic competitiveness and resilience amid resource pressures and the energy transition. He calls for accelerated adoption of circular models based on robust data to guide policies and business strategies.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Luis Planas emphasized the importance of fishing and aquaculture as innovative, sustainable drivers within Spain's blue economy, which employs nearly one million people and adds over 36 billion euros in value. Planas highlighted government efforts, including 40 million euros in funding and networks like REECEA, to boost sustainability and technology transfer in these sectors, reflecting broader circular economy goals.

Spain's current challenge lies in fast-tracking circular practices across industries to reduce dependency and environmental impact while enhancing competitiveness and resilience.