Madeira launched a platform on circular economy

The new digital tool aims to create a community, educate and inspire with examples

Recently, the Environment Secretariat of the Government of Madeira launched ‘Circular Madeira’ Agenda and Digital Platform. These are two new mechanisms available to the Region in the context of creating an economy that is more efficient in its use of resources, has a reduced impact on the environment and human health, and fosters sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth.

The platform seeks to involve the private sector, civic society, households and schools

As the result of a process that counted with the contribution of more than 60 regional entities, the Circular Madeira Agenda aims to reinforce the role of the autonomous island region as a hotspot of the circular economy. This is to be done by involving the entire civil society, public and private entities, in a system that seeks to extend the life and benefit of materials and promote efficiency and sustainability, as factors in market competitiveness and differentiation. 

The Agenda seeks to maximize the best of what is already being done. Yet, it also lays the foundations for new circular initiatives in priority sectors in the regional economy, such as agrifood, construction, tourism and social institutions.

In order to promote community involvement in the transition of the economy, the Madeira Circular Platform (www.madeiracircular.pt) was launched.

On that web portal, it is possible to find the best practices that lead to the efficient use of resources along the value chain of companies and to the reintroduction of these resources into the market. It is also a key aid tool for the business fabric, allowing businessmen, from any area, to figure out, in a simple and quick way, what the impact of their company is on the climate. 

Likewise, the site warns of the need to "close the cycle" of products, not only in the business sector but also in everyday life, making consumers aware of the adoption of practices that begin even before they buy a particular product.

Referring to some examples of circular economy, the regional Secretary of Environment, Susana Prada, who was present at the launch, recalled the investment made recently in the production of organic compost from waste resulting from the cleaning of gardens. She also mentioned the re-usage of all the wastewaters from Porto Santo for agricultural irrigation and for the golf course.