Responsible Christmas Gathering 2025: Swap, Share, and Sustain

This Christmas, the University of León (ULE) and the EURECA-PRO Alliance invite you to celebrate differently.

Upcoming events

The Responsible Christmas Gathering (Encuentro Navidad Responsable) is more than just an event; it is a practical initiative to promote the Circular Economy, Responsible Consumption (SDG 12), and Fair Trade within our community. Through a unique exchange system using our own currency, the “Eurecoop“, we encourage students and staff to give a second life to clothes and discover ethical products, proving that sustainability and the holiday spirit go hand in hand.

How it works

PHASE 1: THE COLLECTION (Give & Earn)

Bring your second-hand clothes to our collection points. For every donation, you will receive “Eurecoops” (exchange tokens) to use during the market days.

When: December 1^st – December 11^th, 2025.
Where (León): International Relations Office (Services Building, Vegazana Campus).
Where (Ponferrada): Sports Service (6^th Floor).

PHASE 2: THE MARKET (Swap & Discover)

Visit our Solidarity Markets to exchange your Eurecoops for “new” clothes or purchase Fair Trade products:

December 15^th & 16^th: León Campus (Hall of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters).
December 17^th: Ponferrada Campus (Cafetería).
Time: 09:00 – 14:00 (All days).

Partners & Collaborators

This initiative is organized by the Vice-Rectorate for Internationalization and Global Engagement, Vice-Rectorate of Ponferrada Campus, Junta de Castilla y León and EURECA-PRO, demonstrating the ULE’s leadership in social impact.

We are proud to collaborate with:

León City Council (Ayuntamiento de León).
Ponferrada City Council (Ayuntamiento de Ponferrada)
Local social and environmental NGOs (Moda-Re/Cáritas León, Intermon Oxfam)
Fair Trade organizations (Universidades por el Comercio Justo, Ciudades por el Comercio Justo)

Why participate?
Besides refreshing your wardrobe sustainably, the event features talks by experts on responsible consumption and a raffle of Fair Trade baskets for participants.

Join us in making this Christmas greener and fairer!

Conferences

As part of the Responsible Christmas Gathering, a series of themed conferences will be held addressing key issues such as sustainable consumption, the circular economy, international development cooperation, ethical fashion, and wildfire management on 16 December in the Graduation Hall of the Faculty of Filosophy and Humanities and on 17 December in the Auditorium of the Ponferrada Campus.

The programme includes talks by professionals and specialists from the University of León (ULE), León City Council, and various social and environmental organisations. Additionally, attendees will be able to take part in a raffle for hampers and gifts featuring fair trade products.