The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) has launched the first edition of the Green Excellence Awards, recognitions directed at companies and entities that are part of its Green Strategy and have developed initiatives related to sustainability.
The goal is to publicize projects that are already being implemented in the port community of Algeciras and Tarifa and that provide concrete improvements in both environmental care and the social sphere. The call includes actions executed wholly or partially from January 1, 2025, until the application deadline.
The awards are divided into two categories. The first is dedicated to Environmental Action and includes projects related to emission reductions, energy savings, the use of renewable sources, circular economy, the recovery of natural spaces, or the responsible management of resources.
Initiatives linked to the use of alternative fuels, the reuse of materials, waste reduction, or the incorporation of technological solutions that allow diminishing the environmental impact of port and logistics activity may also be submitted in this modality.
The second category corresponds to Social Action. In this section, projects aimed at improving the relationship between the port and its surroundings, facilitating social integration, creating jobs related to sustainable activities, or developing training and environmental education programs are welcome.
Initiatives that promote citizen participation, collaboration with local associations and groups, or access for different social groups to job and training opportunities related to maritime and port activity will also be valued.
Participation is reserved for companies and organizations adhering to the Green Strategy of the APBA. Each entity may submit a single application and must choose the category that best fits the characteristics of its project.
The application deadline will remain open until Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Applications must be sent via email to estrategiaverde@apba.es, indicating in the subject "Application for the Green Excellence Awards."
Once the email is received, the Port Authority will register the request and verify that the information and the files sent are correct. It will then send a confirmation to the participating company or entity to confirm that the application has been submitted correctly.
To participate, it is necessary to submit the registration form, a project explanation document, the document regarding data protection, and a copy of the ID or NIE of the person who signs the application. This person must have the capacity to represent the company.
The explanation document will clarify what the initiative consists of, what objectives it pursues, how it has developed, and what its results are. Entities may also provide photographs, certificates, reports, follow-up data, or other materials that help understand the scope of the project.
The rules warn that incomplete applications will not be evaluated. For this reason, interested companies must check that all sections are filled out and that the requested documentation is included among the attached files. The forms and documents are available on the APBA Green Strategy website.
After the deadline, a commission formed by sustainability specialists, representatives of entities linked to the port sector, and members of the Port Authority will analyze the submitted projects.
The jury will select three finalists in each category. To do this, it will consider the scope of the action, its innovative nature, the possibility of applying it in other companies, and the existence of measurable results.
In environmental projects, aspects such as tons of carbon dioxide avoided, reduced energy consumption, the amount of waste recovered, or the percentage of materials reused may be evaluated. In social initiatives, the number of beneficiaries, jobs created, hours of training provided, or participation of groups and associations may be considered.
The relationship of each application with the work lines of the APBA Green Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will also be taken into account. Each criterion will receive a score from one to ten, and the jury may request additional information when it needs to know more details about any action.
With this first call, the Port Authority seeks to gather practical examples of sustainability developed within the port community and facilitate that these experiences are known by other companies in the sector.
