Metropolitan Donut Day - Poland: How can we create cities that are good for people and the planet?
Katowice • Zabrze • Online
Metropolitan Donut Day - Poland was part of the international Global Donut Days initiative, bringing together innovators, activists, and municipalities from around the world.
It was three days filled with dialogue, practice, and inspiration - all focused on one essential question & finding the answer: How can we create cities that are good for people and the planet?
This was already the third edition of Global Donut Days in Poland!
This year’s theme was “Who is the city for?” - inspired by the book of the same title by Magdalena Milert, architect and urban planner, who joined us as a guest speaker.
In her book, Milert highlights design flaws and systemic gaps that make everyday life difficult for city residents - especially for those most vulnerable: children, mothers, seniors, and people with disabilities.
That’s why we decided to talk about how we experience the city as its residents.
We began with “Doughnut Tutoring” - an open, informal session on Doughnut Economics.
It was a relaxed yet inspiring meeting for everyone eager to understand what Kate Raworth’s model is and how it can be applied in urban practice.
The session included engaging questions, hands-on exercises, and reflections based on educational materials from DEAL (Doughnut Economics Action Lab).
We worked online using interactive workshop boards “Unrolling the Doughnut” on the Miro platform, which enabled real-time collaboration between participants from across Poland.
Participants discovered the seven ways of thinking that challenge traditional economic models. They explored how the “doughnut” helps us see the city as an interconnected system where people, the planet, and the economy depend on one another.
On Tuesday, we met in Zabze, at the Youth European Club. The venue proved perfect - we were joined by local youth, and the timing was ideal: October 14th, Poland’s National Education Day, when schools are traditionally closed.
Zabrze is a powerful example of a city in transformation. Once a thriving minicentre, decades of extractive industry brought it to the brink of environmental collapse. The political and economic transition of the 1980s and 1990s led to the closure of mines and a sharp economic downturn for residents.
Today, the city is still redefining its identity, facing financial challenges and the outmigration of young people.
It’s worth recalling that for over 25 years - until 2018 - Zabrze ranked among Europe’s ten most polluted cities (according to WHO data), with contamination affecting air, water, and soil.
During our workshop, we asked the central question: Who is the city for?
The answer was clear: for its residents, for nature, and for future generations.
We used DEAL tools - Doughnut Dimensions to help participants see urban challenges systemically, linking social, ecological, and economic aspects.
The discussions touched on social justice, access to public space, quality of life, urban-nature relations, and new models of cross-sector collaboration.
Our guest, Jerzy Granietzny, an accessibility specialist, talked with young people about everyday barriers and challenges faced by people with special needs.
Bogusław Kamiński, an expert in social entrepreneurship, introduced the idea of community-centred business and its role in a doughnut-based city.
We also connected online with our partners from MasterPeace Tunisia, for a conversation about the global challenge of waste - particularly plastic - and how cities can take meaningful action to reduce it.
The final day took place in Katowice - a modern, open, and dynamic city whose local government has long been known for effective collaboration with residents, civil organisations, and the private sector.
The event was hosted at the Municipal Business Incubator Rawa.ink, provided by the City of Katowice - a symbolic venue where innovation, investment, and social responsibility come together.
We continued to explore the challenges modern cities face: poorly designed, car-dominated spaces; paved and overheated public areas; and the ongoing need for accessibility and inclusion.
Once again, Jerzy Granietz emphasised the importance of involving space users in urban planning and shared real-life examples of effective cooperation.
Mikołaj Siemaszko, naturalist and educator, spoke about greenwashing in urban greening projects and how to bring nature into cities thoughtfully and responsibly.
Witold Szwedkowski, from the Urban Gardening Guerrilla, offered practical insights on how residents can transform their surroundings through bottom-up initiatives.
Bogusław Kamiński once again highlighted the role of social entrepreneurship in building community resilience and creating economies that thrive within planetary boundaries.
We also joined an online meeting with partners from DEAL and MasterPeace during the session “Global Donut Days 2025: Taking Doughnut Economics to Schools & Education - The Journey So Far”, sharing our experiences in youth education.
Finally, we reflected on the interconnections between our regional “doughnuts” - the cities forming the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM), where Katowice is the central hub, the heart of cooperation among 40 municipalities in southern Poland.
Using DEAL materials - Unrolling the Doughnut and Doughnut Dimensions, we demonstrated how to explore urban challenges and design solutions that stay within planetary boundaries, support local communities, and contribute to global well-being.
Acknowledgements
We want to thank our partners and supporters:
DEAL (Doughnut Economics Action Lab), Chairman of the GZM Metropolis Board, City of Katowice, City of Zabrze, Global MasterPeace, MasterPeace Tunisia, and FAMILOK Coop.
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