Alonso Miguel participated in the “Swap, Donate and Feed” fair

Nov. 27, 2022

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, was present this Saturday at the “Swap, Donate and Feed” swap fair, held at the Mercado Duque de Bragança, on the island of Terceira, as part of the 13ᵗʰ Azores Waste Week.

The 13ᵗʰ Azores Waste Week took place between 19 and 27 November, with activities on all the islands of the Archipelago, intending to contribute to raising awareness and educating the population on the issue of waste. It is also noteworthy the promotion of textile reuse workshops, some of them aimed at the school public, where non-used clothes or fabrics gain a new life.

Alonso Miguel mentioned that “this partnership with Cáritas institution, in the “Swap, Donate and Feed” fair, was also a way to contribute to the support of families in need, through the donation of non-perishable food products that were exchanged for used clothing”. He added that “this fair was held in several islands, having the presence of the Regional Director of the Environment and Climate Change, Ana Rodrigues, in the initiative in the Mercado Municipal da Horta, Faial”.

The Regional Secretary referred on the occasion that “the European consumption of textiles represents the fourth largest impact on the environment and on climate change, being that, at a national level, textiles represent 3.78 % of the urban waste”.

Alonso Miguel added that “the consumption of clothing and footwear is expected to increase by 63 % by 2030, from 62 million tonnes to 102 million tonnes”.

“As such, it is necessary to take urgent measures in order to stop its impact on the environment, starting by changing the way we produce and consume, as well as by implementing the concept of circular fashion and demystifying the negative idea that exists in the exchange of used clothes,” he stressed.

For the governor, “with the development of the circular economy, it will be possible to obtain a valorisation of the waste produced and, consequently, the reduction of the consumption of raw materials and the production of waste that is not valorised or reused”.

“The circular economy emerges as a catalyst for innovation, since with waste prevention measures, eco-design and reuse, are created the conditions for a new use of products, extending their life cycle and, at the same time, contributing to a better use of natural resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Regional Secretary.

Alonso Miguel noted that, in this context, “the review process of the Waste Prevention and Management Strategic Programme (PEPGRA 20+) is concluded. To prepare the Autonomous Region of the Azores for this new reality, the Regional Circular Economy Roadmap is being prepared, which aims to develop a regional diagnosis, including the analysis of material and energy flows in the Azores, measuring the regional economic metabolism and creating an objective base framework to assess the potential and constraints for the development of a circular economy model in the Region”.

Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that “as part of the 13ᵗʰ Waste Week of the Azores, more than 85 awareness-raising actions were held on all the islands of the Azores, promoted by various entities, from public administration and local authorities to private companies, educational establishments, associations, waste management entities and waste operators”.