On the 20th of February, Urban Agenda Partner on Circular Economy, City of Prato, invited to a national meeting on the Opportunities of Circular Economy for Italian cities. The seminar was held in the inspiring Textile Museum, reflecting the City of Prato’s important role as a leading industrial hub for European textile industry.

Among the speakers, Raffaele Tiscar, Italian Ministry of Environment, Kavdija Merc Godler, Slovenian Ministry for the Environment and Spatial Planning and Susana Lopes, LIPOR Intermunicipal Waste Management of Greater Porto gave introduction to national strategies for circular economy in Italia, Slovenia and Portugal.

The City of Prato had invited both academic from the local University and representatives from local business. Very interesting was the link between the circular economy and the technical and cultural perspective focusing on smart city development.

A circular economy strategy, both on national and city level, depends on a acceptance from a broad range of actors, from the political leadership, city administration, Universities and local enterprises. The nearly 100 participants at the seminar clearly got that information