Aiming for the Ecovidrio Green Flag: The Quest of Carboneras
Carboneras Competes for Andalucía's Green Flag in Sustainability Drive
The coastal town of Carboneras is vying for the regional Green Flag, a prestigious award presented by Ecovidrio as part of the #MovimientoBanderasVerdes campaign. Carboneras is one of 50 municipalities across Andalucía competing for the honour.
The competition aims to promote a circular economy during the busy summer season, particularly within the hospitality sector where half of all single-use glass packaging waste originates. To win the Green Flag, municipalities must meet specific criteria, including increasing glass collection volumes, ensuring at least 50% participation of local hospitality establishments in recycling efforts, and actively promoting the campaign to raise awareness about proper glass waste management and circular economy practices.
Mayor Salvador Hernández supports the local hospitality industry's efforts to recycle more during the summer. This year, 23 bars, restaurants, and beach bars in Carboneras have joined the project, adding to the town's commitment to sustainability and glass recycling.
Ecovidrio, a partner in the project, has provided recycling containers, collection tools, and sustainability training to participating venues in Carboneras. Environmental educators will visit each location to reinforce the recycling message.
Last summer, Carboneras received a special mention for its commitment to sustainability. Winning towns in the Ecovidrio Green Flag competition will receive a beach clean-up day coordinated by Paisaje Limpio. Moreover, the most sustainable businesses in the competition will be recognised with prizes, including a Master Class by Michelin-starred chef Ricard Camarena.
The competition is part of the sixth edition of the #MovimientoBanderasVerdes campaign, a collaboration between Carboneras' Town Hall and Ecovidrio. Only two Green Flags will be awarded regionally, making the competition fiercely competitive.
Mayor Hernández expressed his support for the town's efforts, stating, "We are proud to be part of this initiative and are committed to promoting sustainability and recycling in our coastal towns and hospitality sectors."
By focusing on sustainability and glass recycling, Carboneras hopes to reduce emissions and increase circular practices in the hospitality sector, contributing significantly to sustainability efforts in coastal areas where a large proportion of glass waste originates from hospitality venues during summer.
In the quest for the Green Flag, Carboneras is enthusiastically working towards promoting sustainable living, particularly within its home-and-garden sector and the hospitality industry, where it seeks to reduce waste generated from single-use glass packaging. To win, Carboneras, a contestant in the #MovimientoBanderasVerdes campaign, must meet specific criteria, including increasing collection volumes of glass and achieving at least 50% participation from local environmental-science domain establishments in recycling initiatives.
