The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment launches the second edition of the “Responsible Beach Bar Awards” which is part of the “Conservation Actions on the Coast” programme. This award seeks to promote, together with the business sector, the dissemination of good environmental practices in the activities carried out by beachfront establishments or beach bars.

The “Coastal Conservation Actions” programme seeks to integrate the private business sector in the implementation of the programme’s objectives, joining forces for the improvement and conservation of the coastline in Spain. In addition to the “Responsible Beach Bar Awards”, it has outstanding actions such as the “Decalogue of Good Environmental Practices” or the “Beaches, Volunteering and Land Stewardship” Program.

The “Responsible Beach Bar Awards” are aimed at all beach establishments of this type that adhere to the decalogue and present actions that they have developed or will develop in favor of sustainability. The rules of the awards can be consulted in www.fundacion-biodiversidad.es/programaplayas . The presentation of applications will be open until September 15.

The economic endowment of the prizes amounts to a total of 24,000 euros, which will be distributed among three categories:

• Category 1. Initiatives developed.

Developed Initiatives: establishments that have already carried out sustainable environmental initiatives that contribute to the conservation of the environment in which they carry out their economic activity.

• Category 2. Ideas.

Ideas: establishments that want to develop sustainable environmental initiatives that contribute to the conservation of the environment in which they carry out their economic activity.

• Category 3. Initiatives/ideas of federations, associations or groups of beach bars

Aimed at federations, associations and groups of beach bars that promote responsible environmental practices among their members focused on the conservation of the coast. They will be able to present initiatives already developed or ideas that promote this vision among their associated beach bars.

In each category, up to a maximum of three prizes will be awarded: a first prize endowed with 4,000 euros, a second prize endowed with 2,500 euros and a third prize that will amount to 1,500 euros.

In the first edition of the Responsible Beach Bar Awards, which took place in 2012, a total of 526 beach bars adhered to the Decalogue of Good Environmental Practices and 55 beach bars participated in the Awards. The Decalogue guides beach bars in terms of better use of resources, pollution prevention and waste management, as well as advising them on environmental education and awareness and social responsibility.