Sustainability in Calvià

Posidonia, the ecological treasure of the Mediterranean

Calvià is one of the leading municipalities in the Mediterranean for natural beach cleaning and maintenance. The method used has been studied by various countries and institutions, including the government of the Monastir tourist area in Tunisia. Calvià has established the most efficient and environmentally respectful procedures for cleaning Posidonia, its storage, and later return to the coast.

This process aims to preserve the environment, retain sand on the beaches, and ensure the natural cycle of Posidonia. Each year, around 4,600 tons of Posidonia are removed and stored in municipal tents. Once dried, its weight is reduced to about 2,600 tons, which is then returned to the beaches after the tourist season.

The collection is carried out with special machinery that minimises impact and accidental sand removal, and is adapted to the set periods depending on whether the beaches are urban or natural, with or without services. When necessary, it is removed manually. This important work is carried out by the municipal public company Calvià 2000.

The goal is to return the Posidonia and sand that has accumulated after removal in order to combat beach erosion during the winter. Posidonia acts as a natural barrier against storms, playing a vital role in coastal protection and marine biodiversity.

Regenerated water, clean water for urban and agricultural use

Calvià is a leader in regenerated water production and water cycle management in the Balearic Islands. At the ERA (Water Regeneration Station) in Santa Ponça to 10 million litres of water can be saved daily. The station can produce over 20,000 cubic metres of regenerated water, of which 10,000 (quality 1.1) is suitable for irrigating private gardens, parks, street cleaning, WC cisterns, and sports fields, and the rest (quality 2.1) for golf courses and agricultural irrigation.

This supports a population of 118,000, reducing reliance on potable water. The regenerated water network is constantly expanding. Calvià has a parallel regenerated water network of 55 kilometers that runs through the municipality, allowing for the irrigation of public green spaces. Just along the municipality's longitudinal axis, the Paseo Calvià, there is a 24-kilometer network for irrigating 100,000 square meters.

A project is underway to extend the network by 17 km, funded with over €4 million from the Sustainable Tourism Tax, aiming to irrigate 914,000 m² with regenerated water.

A clear example is the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, where a public-private pilot project resuses regenerated water for garden irrigation. This showcases the private sector’s commitment to sustainability and the economic and environmental benefits of water reuse.

Ahead of European regulations on microplastic elimination

Calvià has once again set the standard for innovation in environmental sustainability. The municipality has proactively addressed the issue of microplastics reaching the sea, impacting the ecosystem and the food chain.

The European Commission has set a deadline of 2031 for the discontinuation of artificial grass football fields using the current infill system. These fields must be replaced with alternative materials that are non-polluting.

The Julián Ronda field in Costa d’en Blanes is the first in the Balearic Islands and the third in Spain to be equipped with this sustainable and environmentally friendly technology. The new artificial turf is state-of-the-art.

The key innovation lies in the use of an organic maize granulate infill, which replaces the microplastics previously used. The maize granulate is biodegradable and harmless if it reaches the sea, offering a safe, eco-conscious solution for the future of sports infrastructure.

Objective: recycle 100% of glass

The path to sustainable tourism that respects the environment goes through recycling. The issue is not so much about reducing waste, but about knowing how to scale and turn waste into a recyclable asset. This is the philosophy promoted by the Town Hall of Calvià through the public company Calvià 2000.

In recent years, periodic glass recycling campaigns have been launched. With the involvement of private businesses in the municipality, 70 kilograms of glass per inhabitant per year have been collected for recycling. Over 3,700 tons of glass are recycled annually, with the participation of nearly 500 restaurants and bars in the municipality. These figures are surpassed during the summer months.

Ecovidrio, the glass packaging recycling management system in Spain, has recognised Calvià as one of the most responsible coastal municipalities in the Balearic Islands in terms of sustainability and the circular economy. Calvià has been awarded a Green Flag for its involvement in selective glass collection and the active participation of the hospitality sector in recycling.

95.9% of restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments participate in the glass recycling campaigns during the summer.

Calvià doubles the Spanish average for paper and cardboard recycling

Calvià has risen to the top of the rankings for municipalities, municipal associations, consortia, and entities in populations of over 50,000 inhabitants in Spain in terms of paper and cardboard collection and recycling.

Data analysed and published by ASPAPEL (Spanish Association of Pulp, Paper, and Cardboard Manufacturers) place the municipality as the fourth entity with nearly 50 kilograms of paper and cardboard per inhabitant, well above the national average of 20.59 kilograms. This includes paper and cardboard collected through municipal door-to-door selective collection, blue containers, and recycling points.

ASPAPEL is a professional organisation at the national level, grouping companies in the cellulose and paper sector. Its member companies account for more than 90% of the sector’s production. The ASPAPEL recycling programme won the European Paper Recycling Award in Brussels in 2007, which honours innovative projects promoting paper recycling in Europe.

Commitment to Blue Tourism

Blue tourism is defined as a tourism approach that prioritises the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems while promoting the sustainable development of local communities. This strategy not only seeks to reduce the environmental impact of tourism but also to enhance the cultural and natural wealth of coastal destinations.

The main pillars of municipal management of beaches and the coastline are:

- Aligning beach services with responsible tourism offerings and ensuring the proper use by citizens
- Zero waste and commitment to water regeneration
-Fighting against microplastics that end up in the sea
-Raising awareness, promoting volunteering, and collaborating with other institutions, social entities, and the private sector.
- Managing Posidonia along the coastline.

To manage the flows of information related to blue tourism, a management system (DTI – Smart Tourist Destination) has been designed and implemented in the city. This system allows for the collection of necessary data to obtain strategic information that helps to understand and analyse the behavior of visitors, and, among other aspects, to assess the potential evolution of tourism activities from both the tourism supply side and the demand side, as well as market trends.

A protocol was signed in 2022 and is currently 85% implemented. It is budgeted at 4 million euros, with 60% funded by Next Generation funds and 40% by the Town Hall.

Smart Tourist Destination (DTI)

Calvià is part of the Smart Tourist Destinations (DTI) initiative, led by Spain’s Secretariat of State for Tourism. The programme aims to promote sustainable tourism development, enhance visitor satisfaction, and improve the wellbeing of local communities. The DTI model is built on key pillars: governance, innovation, technology, sustainability, and accessibility. These principles support a tourism strategy designed to meet both current needs and future challenges. This approach has been recognised by major international bodies such as the UNWTO, OECD, IDB, and WTTC.

Calvià’s DTI implements a management system to obtain strategic information that helps to understand visitor behaviour and, amongst other aspects, analyse the possible evolution of tourism activity in terms of both tourism offer and tourism and market demand. The flow of people and vehicles, as well as variables such as water quality and temperature, are monitored. This ambitious protocol is budgeted at €4 million, of which 60% comes from Next Generation funds and 40% from the Town Council.

Data monitored in June 2025 showed an average maximum occupancy of 20% of the maximum allowed capacity. The data has been collected thanks to the capacity control cameras of the DTI system, a pioneer in the Balearic Islands and currently the only one operating with this level of accuracy in the Balearics. The municipality’s six major beaches have been monitored: the three in Palmanova (Es Carregador, Na Nadala, and Son Maties), Magaluf, Santa Ponça, and Torà in Peguera. Together, they total 5.6 kilometres of beach. In Magaluf, a 1,600-metre-long beach with a 60-metre-wide strip of sand, the maximum occupancy was 925 people.

Renaturalisation and New Promenade for Magaluf’s Beach

This year, Calvià has carried out the renaturalisation of Magaluf’s beach. The first phase of the renovation of the Magaluf Seafront Promenade — Paseo Gabriel Escarrer Juliá — was officially inaugurated on 22 June.

A naturalised environment has been developed through the integration of low-visual-impact dunes, the planting of palm trees and drought-resistant vegetation, and the implementation of a water collection and reuse system aimed at minimising reliance on potable water resources.

The dunes have been delineated using reed barriers and the introduction of native plant species. Their height does not exceed 80 centimetres, thereby ensuring minimal visual intrusion. Consequently, both the seafront promenade and the terraces of first-line establishments maintain unobstructed views of the coastal landscape and the sea. In addition, 48 palm trees have been planted and arranged in clusters to form small oasis-like areas, enhancing both ecological value and aesthetic appeal.

A rainwater collection system has been installed along the promenade. The collected water is treated locally in compact purification units, and the reclaimed water is subsequently used for the irrigation of dune vegetation. Additionally, the beach showers are equipped with foot-washing stations that operate using saltwater extracted from the beach’s own phreatic layer. These measures form part of a broader strategy aimed at significantly reducing the consumption of potable water from the conventional supply network, while simultaneously promoting environmental sustainability and resource efficiency in coastal infrastructure.

Accessible Beaches

In Calvià, social sustainability represents a fundamental pillar of sustainable development and an indispensable factor for safeguarding a prosperous future. The Town Council undertakes numerous initiatives designed to promote and consolidate a responsible and sustainable tourism model.

One key initiative focuses on accessible beaches. Son Maties and Santa Ponça beaches are specifically designed to ensure accessibility for individuals with reduced mobility. They are equipped with shaded areas, wooden walkways extending to the shoreline, and assistance devices such as amphibious chairs, walkers, and crutches. Trained support staff are available to assist individuals who wish to make use of this free service. In addition, reservations are not required.