The Secretary of State for the Environment, Federico Ramos, today presented the “Responsible Beach Bars Awards”, convened by the Biodiversity Foundation.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Federico Ramos, today presented the “Responsible Beach Bars Awards”, convened by the Biodiversity Foundation.
This is the second edition of these awards that are part of the Coastal Conservation Actions Program, launched by the Biodiversity Foundation. The objective is to reinforce the protection of the coast, reconciling it with sustainable economic activities and with the common and free use of the public domain, strengthen legal security on the coast and generate confidence and certainty for coastal occupations and economic activity.
During the ceremony to celebrate this second edition of “Responsible Beach Bars Awards”, held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment, the Secretary of State for the Environment presented the prizes to the winning establishments: in the category of ‘Developed Initiatives’, the Chiringuito La Carpa de Matalascañas (Huelva) was awarded first place for its selective waste and oil collection service, its smoke extraction system, controlled water discharge, LED lighting with automatic regulation according to the time of day, and its information service on the values of the coast; secondly, Kiosko Bitákora in San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia) has been distinguished for its selective collection of waste and oils (reused to make natural soap), its double-flush cisterns and pedal taps to save water, the use of an ecological fridge refrigerated with ice and appliances with energy certification, because its suppliers are local, and for having an environmental information and awareness point. Finally, in third place, the Chiringuito La Moraga, in Adra (Almería), has been awarded for its selective collection of waste and oils (reused to make natural soap), for cleaning the beach bar with recycled or reused water, for being designed with a shape and materials that allow the maximum use of natural lighting and ventilation, considerably reducing the use of energy. and because local staff at risk of social exclusion are hired. These establishments have received prizes worth 4,000, 2,500 and 1,500 euros, respectively.
In the ‘Ideas’ category, the first and second place winners were the establishments Tiki Bar Beach, in Valencia, and Churros and Chocolates Víctor, in San Pedro del Pinatar, with a prize of €4,000 and €2,500 respectively, for initiatives that they intend to develop over the next few months. Tiki Bar Beach will place a green point for waste collection on the beach, extending its use to all beach users, not only to customers, it will use reusable cups, install a solar panel for energy self-sufficiency and will organize recycling workshops, as well as activities on the occasion of World Environment Day. For its part, Churros y Chocolates Víctor will reuse the plastic jugs as a planter for the planting of Aleppo pine in a local dune area of great natural value, and will collaborate with the “Wetlands Center” of the Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro Natural Park” to promote the active participation of young people and their awareness of environmental matters.
Finally, and in the category of Initiatives/Ideas of federations, associations or groups of Chiringuitos, the jury has awarded € 4,000 each, to the Provincial Association of Entrepreneurs of Beaches of Cádiz (APECA) and Mar y sombra SL. In this category there are two awards that are awarded, because the jury has decided to recognize the work of organizations of different nature, on the one hand that of a group with a business character and on the other that of Federation or Association of beach bars, endowing both prizes with the same amount.
The jury for these awards was made up of the President of the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (ADEAC), the Director of Training and Environment of the Red Cross, the Director General of Local Policies of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, the Director General of Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and by the Director of the Biodiversity Foundation.
For the second consecutive year, the Biodiversity Foundation has launched the “Responsible Beach Bar Awards”. Convened last June, this call has been addressed to all beach establishments adhering to the decalogue of good practices that presented actions developed or to be developed in favor of sustainability. The presentation of candidatures was open until September 15, receiving a total of 83 proposals.
The Awards are part of the “Responsible Beach Bars” program of the Biodiversity Foundation, through which 573 beach bars have been able to adhere to the Decalogue of Good Practices, committing to carry out actions such as maintaining the cleanliness of the facilities and the space occupied on the beach, promoting their correct use among the public, minimizing water and energy consumption or using recyclable packaging. among other initiatives.
