Follow the Camino is committed to preserving the future of the Camino de Santiago for generations to come. If hundreds of years of people on pilgrimage before us have travelled on the routes to Santiago de Compostela without leaving their mark, modern pilgrims can do the same.
A major part of this effort is ensuring the roads and paths remain litter free, and that waste generated is disposed of in the appropriate recycling facility. This ensures products have a longer lifespan and reduces overall waste.
Ecoembes is a non-profit corporation has championed better recycling practices in Spain since 1997, working to make recycling a daily habit.
Could you briefly introduce Ecoembes, including its headquarters, main mission and scope of work?
Ecoembes is the non-profit organization that has been working to develop the circular economy in Spain for 25 years. We do this by managing the recycling of household plastic, metal and brick packaging, and paper and cardboard packaging. Currently, there are more than 19,000 companies around the country that trust us to manage their packaging. Furthermore, with the aim of achieving full circularity of the creation of packaging to its return to circulation, starting in 2025 we will offer this same service for commercial packaging.
For Ecoembes, collaboration is essential. For this reason, and hoping to further develop recycling infrastructure, we work hand in hand with companies, the public administration, and citizens. In recent years, thanks to this collaboration, recycling has become more of a habit in Spain, with 4 out of every 5 households stating they have a space at home for it.
We are aware that progress towards a circular system does not just involve recycling, but other efforts such as the reduction of resources and reuse. Therefore, we work for a future without waste that generates a positive impact on the environment and people’s lives.
Can you dig into the numbers behind your recycling efforts and their impact?
Recycling infrastructure has developed a lot since 1997, when Ecoembes began operating. In 2023 alone, more than 1.6 million tons of plastic, metal, cartons, and paper and cardboard packaging were recycled. This is a 3.5% increase on the previous year and a 12% increase on 5 years ago.
These figures were calculated using the PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) methodology promoted by the European Commission, using the ecoinvent v3.9 Life Cycle Analysis databases. and developed by Repaq.
In addition to saving virgin raw materials, recycling domestic packaging to manufacture new products—such as textiles, pipes, urban furniture, or new packaging, among others—also brings other environmental benefits. In 2023 it meant saving 9.84 million MWH of energy; conserving 15.53 million m3 of water. and prevented the emission of 1.7 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
It must be taken into account that, although recycling is a well-established habit in homes, it is necessary to extend recycling practices further. By prioritising recycling, companies take on a fundamental role in evolving our linear economy into a circular one, in which the waste we generate can have a second life.
Could you explain the current legislation in Spain and some of the EU that supports recycling and circular economy initiatives?
In recent years, regulations have evolved a lot with the aim of moving towards circularity and achieving a more sustainable society.
For example, if we talk about packaging, the new regulations focus on the importance of eco-design: to the extent possible, companies will have to prioritise recycled materials when manufacturing new packaging, with measures such as incorporating recycled plastic from 2025. They must also make this packaging 100% recyclable and reusable where possible by 2030.
At Ecoembes we have been working on packaging recycling for 25 years, but there are many other sectors that must also adopt recycling practices. Luckily, legislation changes are forcing companies to recycle things that, until now, were not recycled.
Furthermore, this shift in directive is no longer solely focused on recycling, but also on reduction and reuse as first principles. The idea is to generate less, to be able to use the resources we have many times over and, ultimately, recycle so that all waste can be turned into new products.
How do these regulations influence Ecoembes’ waste management strategies, particularly in the tourism sector?
The regulations help us to continue advancing in terms of recycling and sustainability, together with companies, government bodies and citizens. In the case of the tourism sector, including hotels and restaurants, at Ecoembes we try to provide them with the necessary facilities to make recycling an easy and natural part of daily processes.
In 2015 we launched the ‘Recycling Path’ project with the aim of raising awareness about the conservation of the Camino de Santiago through recycling and reducing instances of littering, of which 550 eco-lodges along the routes are already part.
Additionally, in 2016 we launched the ‘Ecohosteleros’ initiative to continue promoting recycling in hotels, restaurants and cafes. Since then, almost 35,000 hospitality businesses have joined.
Is there any specific initiative that Ecoembes has carried out on the Camino to manage waste and promote recycling?
Yes. In fact, continuing with the ‘Recycling Path’ project, it has collection points for recyclable waste in hostels and other rest areas, where pilgrims can deposit their containers safely and responsibly.
It was joined by the Xunta de Galicia, the Junta de Castilla y León, the Principality of Asturias, the Government of La Rioja, the Government of Cantabria, the Government of Navarra, and the Government of the Basque Country. These administrations cover all sections of the French Way; Northern Way; the Portuguese Way and the Coastal Route; English Way; and the Original Way.
Furthermore, thanks to the collaboration between EcoPeregrinos, EcoAlbergues and these public administrations, we ensured that the Jacobean Holy Year 2021-2022 was remembered for being the most committed to recycling and the environment in history, so that the only things left on the Camino were the footsteps and the experiences lived.
That same year and under this framework, we launched The ‘Backwards Path’, a pioneering project in which pilgrims travelling on the Camino would raise awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment and collect litter found on the route. In the 8 years of the project, we reached 550 shelters across Spain.
We also collaborated with hostels and hotels along the Camino, providing them with special bins for selective waste collection. In addition, we carried out workshops and training activities for staff and pilgrims, promoting the importance of responsible waste management and recycling. These strategies help accommodation owners comply with environmental regulations and contribute to a cleaner environment.
What actions does Ecoembes carry out in popular Spanish tourist destinations to ensure sustainable waste management practices are followed through?
Ecoembes has agreements with 81 private managers at more than 17,000 different locations, including leisure parks, football stadiums, universities, and hospitals, to help them embed recycling practices in their operations as much as possible.
We work so that the recycling habit reaches everywhere: hotels, restaurants, cafes, but also to airports, transport stations, or amusement parks, for example. Furthermore, in the summer season or when there is a greater volume of tourist travel, we deploy recycling facilities in the places that need it the most. In 2024, more than 14,400 colored trash cans were distributed in municipal facilities such as swimming pools, sports centers or high-traffic public events such as parties or concerts.
In tourist destinations, such as the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands or the Valencian Community, we work with local councils and companies to establish specific waste collection systems for tourists. We distribute colored bins, develop citizen awareness campaigns and teach about more sustainable waste management through different activities.
What recommendations would you give to hotels on the Camino or in other tourist places to improve their waste management practices?
There are many simple actions that hotels and other tourist places can put into practice to guarantee better and easier recycling paractices for guests:
- Implement waste separation at your facilities, providing clearly labeled bins to facilitate recycling.
- Inform your guests that they have trash cans to separate their waste.
- Carry out awareness campaigns with staff about the importance of recycling.
- Join programs such as ‘Ecohosteleros’ to bring recycling to your facilities.
Can you provide tips for tourists on how to reduce waste and promote recycling on their travels, especially on the Camino?
It is simple and easy for people to take ownership of reducing waste on the Camino:
- Carry bottles and other reusable containers to reduce waste.
- Do not litter in natural spaces when sightseeing. To avoid this, always carry a small bag and, once you have gathered any litter you find, separate the waste into the appropriate coloured recycling containers.
- Support accommodations and services that promote sustainable practices, such as those that are part of the Recycling Path or those with the Ecohoster seal.
To learn more about the sustainability initiatives at Follow the Camino, check out our sustainability partners.
