Matosinhos, Portugal
Matosinhos' strong commitment to promoting circularity, in line with Matosinhos' goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 through the implementation of its Municipal Climate Action Plan as well as its commitments made to sustainability, is demonstrated through the recent publication of two Strategic Plans for the Circular Economy and the promotion of Hackathons.
The Territorial Action Plan for the Circular Economy of Matosinhos focuses on three priority areas: food and bio-waste, consumer goods, and construction, also taking water and energy into consideration. The strategy was developed in collaboration with a wide range of local and regional stakeholders.
The Circular and Green Public Procurement Plan of Matosinhos is a pioneering plan whose main objective was to integrate circularity and sustainability criteria into all acquisitions of goods, services and public works, establishing a strategic framework to reduce waste, value resources and decrease the municipality's environmental footprint.
The city was the subject of a detailed case study on its circular economy actions and potential for a circular economy by the OECD. Currently, it is also involved in an urban metabolism study aimed at identifying and measuring the different flows of materials and waste in the construction materials value chain within the municipality, in order to enable opportunities to optimise these flows through the slowing down, reduction, and closing of material and energy cycles.It is also currently engaged in an urban metabolism study aimed at identifying and measuring the different material and waste sflows within the municipality to allow opportunities for optimising these flows through slowing down, reducing and closing material and energy cycles.
Find out more
- Matosinhos Municipal Climate Action Plan
- Territorial Action Plan for the Circular Economy of Matosinhos
- Matosinhos Circular and Green Public Procurement Plan
- Hackathon & Ideathon Matosinhos: challenges of the restaurant industry
- Hackathon on Circular Economy
- Matosinhos Energy Hub
- OECD Case Study: Circular Economy in Matosinhos
ReCircular - Laboratory for waste prevention and reuse
Operating since June 2025, the ReCircular project laboratory collects items such as small electronic and electrical appliances, furniture and toys, with the aim of recovering, reusing and donating them, working in collaboration with local vulnerable groups. The lab is complemented by a digital platform promoting the exchange of second-hand, non-monetary product exchanges.
Promoting composting and organic agriculture
The Horta a Porta initiative provides community gardens for residents to cultivate organically. Water and a composter are supplied by the municipality, along with training in organic farming practices. The composters have become very popular in the community, and demand far exceeds supply. Composters are also being supplied by the municipality directly to schools and apartment blocks.
Reducing food waste
Matosinhos collaborates with the Association of Municipalities for the Sustainable Management of Urban Waste of Greater Porto – LIPOR – on two projects aimed at reducing food waste. The Dose Certa project helps restaurants assess the potential for reducing food waste during preparation and implementation, and to create a "sustainable menu". The Embrulha project offers sustainable and compostable packaging so that customers can take leftover food home. Both projects are aimed at catering and canteens.
