Navarra’s circular economy approach builds trust with industry

As part of the Hubs4Circularity (H4C) project’s focus on industrial symbiosis, ACR+ has been engaging with its members to showcase effective governance models. One example is Navarra Zirkular, a public-private initiative from the Navarra region in northern Spain, which is supporting local businesses in making the shift toward more circular and collaborative industrial practices.

In a region where industry makes up over 30% of the regional GDP, Navarra Zirkular offers companies a supportive entry point into circular economy activities, including resource valorisation and inter-company collaboration. With a strong emphasis on trust, innovation, and public-private cooperation, the partnership provides tools such as circularity assessments, innovation funding, and stakeholder matchmaking. By positioning themselves as facilitators rather than regulators, they’ve earned credibility with businesses—turning potential oversight into opportunity. However, challenges remain, such as navigating evolving waste regulations and the need for shared infrastructure, which the Navarra Zirkular hopes future EU legislation will help to address.

Read the full interview here.