The city of Guimarães is leading European best practices and strengthening its position as a reference in the ecological and digital transition.
This recognition from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) places Guimarães among the most advanced cities in the European Union in the adoption of circular economy practices. It is the only Portuguese city included in the report “The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions of the European Union”. The distinction was presented at the end of April during the OECD Urban Days conference in Paris and highlights the city’s strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and cooperation among local stakeholders.
Among the 64 cities and regions analysed, Guimarães stood out by ranking highly across all evaluation criteria, particularly in strategic vision, efficient allocation of financial resources, stakeholder engagement, and technical and human capacity to implement circular models. The OECD also recognised the effective integration of the circular economy with other local and regional strategies, making Guimarães the only European city to achieve this level of coordination.
The municipal strategy RRRCICLO – Circular Economy in Guimarães, as well as the city’s active participation in international networks such as the Circular Cities Declaration, were highlighted as key success factors. Guimarães is, in fact, one of the founding signatories of this consortium that promotes the sharing of best practices and scalable solutions.
The report reinforces the crucial role of local authorities in promoting a more resilient and environmentally responsible economic model. In this context, Guimarães has taken the lead in European projects such as Let’s Go Circular! under the URBACT programme and Circular Ecosystems under Interreg POCTEP, which aim to support over a hundred cities in their green and digital transition.
The presence of Isabel Loureiro, coordinator of the Guimarães 2030 Mission Structure, and Carlos Ribeiro, director of the Landscape Laboratory, at the report presentation in Paris, highlights the city’s growing influence in Europe’s sustainability landscape.
This international recognition adds to Guimarães’ recent nomination as European Green Capital 2026, further consolidating its leadership role in the journey toward climate neutrality and sustainable development. AICEP, the Portuguese agency for investment and external trade, has also reacted to the distinction, expressing pride in supporting and promoting this exemplary path for Portugal.
