Guimarães has emerged as a finalist for the 2026 European Green Capital award, recognising cities with over 100 000 inhabitants for their sustainable practices. Vitrus Ambiente plays a pivotal role in Guimarães' achievements, particularly in efficient waste management and sustainable waste collection. The city has been selected alongside six others by the European Commission based on their proactive efforts to tackle urban environmental challenges, encompassing climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Guimarães stands out for its stringent policies against single-use materials at city events, initiatives to prevent food waste, and advancements in water efficiency through reduced consumption and proactive leak detection in public buildings, complemented by the installation of public water stations. 

 

The finalist cities will showcase to a jury panel in October their environmental vision and governance, as well as their communication strategy in case they win. The winners will be announced in this year’s European Green Capital Valencia (Spain) on 24 October 2024 at a festive award ceremony. The European Green Capital winner will receive a financial prize of EUR 600 000 to implement their strategy in cooperation with citizens and stakeholders.