27 Jan Beyond recycling: FITUR opens the debate on circular economy in tourism
Once again, FITUR reaffirmed its role as a key forum for analysing the major challenges shaping the present and future of the tourism industry. Beyond its exhibition activity, the event hosted in-depth discussions on sustainability, innovation and new management models, focusing on how to move towards a more responsible and resilient tourism sector.
Within this framework, one of the most relevant conversations of this edition took place: the round table “Circular economy applied to tourism: beyond recycling”. The session brought together representatives from Resuinsa, Eco-One, Magic Hotel Group and Garden Hotel Group to reflect on how different areas of the industry are advancing towards a more circular tourism model.
Representing Resuinsa, its CEO Félix Martí explained that applying circular economy principles to hotel textiles begins at the product design stage. This approach is based on developing solutions conceived for intensive use and extended service life. In this regard, the company is working on products that incorporate up to 20% post-consumer recycled material, while maintaining the durability and performance standards required by hotel operations.
From this perspective, textiles stand out as one of the areas with the greatest potential for real impact on hotel sustainability. Resuinsa integrates this approach transversally, not as a one-off initiative, but as an ongoing line of work aimed at improving resource efficiency and addressing the real needs of hoteliers.
The discussion also highlighted initiatives such as the VITA collection, which reuses textile waste from the hospitality sector itself to transform it into new, functional and customisable products. This initiative demonstrates how circular economy principles can be applied in a practical way to daily hotel operations, adding value both operationally and to the guest experience.
The round table further underlined the importance of anticipation and active collaboration within the sector to address upcoming regulatory and operational challenges. “The circular economy in tourism cannot be solved through a single action or by a single player. It requires collaboration, consistency and decisions that start long before the end of a product’s life cycle,” Félix Martí pointed out.
The session concluded with a call to continue promoting spaces for dialogue and collaboration between companies, hotel groups and suppliers, as a pathway towards a more responsible, efficient and future-ready tourism model.
