Circularity Gains Momentum: BASF Awards - Seven Projects in Its Seventh Edition
Madrid, 11 November 2025
• BASF and the Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad present, for the seventh consecutive year, the awards that recognize the most innovative circular economy projects.
• Projects from Hospital La Paz, Moeve, Urbaser, Cartonplast Ibérica, Wallapop, Agencia Efe, and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) have been selected as winners among more than 150 applications received.
The projects submitted by Hospital La Paz, Moeve, Urbaser (honourable mention), Cartonplast Ibérica, Wallapop, Agencia Efe, and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) were chosen as the winners of the seventh edition of the BASF Circular Economy Awards, in the categories of Public Administration, Large Company, SME, Start-Up, Communication, and Academia. The awards ceremony took place today, 11 November, at the Circular Economy Innovation Centre of Madrid City Council (CIEC).
Before an audience of more than 100 attendees, the event was inaugurated by María Jesús Romero de Ávila, Director General of Economy at Madrid City Council. The VII BASF Awards for Best Circular Economy Practices in Spain were presented by Nuria Aymerich, Special Commissioner for Industrial Competitiveness and of SMEs. The purpose of these awards is to recognize projects or research initiatives based on circular economy principles that contribute —or have the potential to contribute— to strengthening business competitiveness in Spain, with a particular focus on environmental and social sustainability.
A roundtable discussion took place during the event, addressing the challenges and opportunities that circular economy initiatives face. Although promising, many initiatives encounter legal barriers, limited access to financing, or insufficient infrastructure for their development. Participants also discussed the keys to regulating, supporting, and catalyzing these initiatives to ensure full circularity. Speakers included Luis M. Jiménez Herrero, President of the Association for Sustainability and Social Progress; Mónica Chao, President of WAS; and Alex Dorado, Commissioner for Circular Economy at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD). The discussion was moderated by Cristina González Alonso, Director of Strategy, Advocacy and Competitiveness at FEIQUE.
During the awards ceremony, Carles Navarro, Vice President of BASF and President of the Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad, highlighted that achieving a more sustainable world and enabling resource circularity requires the holistic work of all individuals and institutions involved, regardless of size or nature. “Our commitment is to sustainability. This edition marks seven years of dedication to holistic work. Today, we congratulate the winners of this seventh edition and express our gratitude for all proposals received so far —more than 800. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in the circularisation of our industrial processes and in our research and development of solutions that help others advance towards a circular model. Any initiative aimed at fostering new models, products, or services that benefit society and the environment will always find an ally in BASF.”
Nuria Aymerich, Special Commissioner for Industrial Competitiveness and SMEs, delivered the institutional closing remarks.
AWARD WINNERS
A jury of renowned experts —Marta Gómez Palenque (Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge), Cristina Rivero (CEOE), Xavier Ribera (BASF Española), Juan Alfaro (Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad), and Pablo Blázquez (Ethic)— evaluated the more than 150 applications submitted for this edition.
SME Category: Cartonplast Ibérica
The Pool Model aims to replace single-use cardboard layer pads currently used in beverage and food packaging with reusable plastic layer pads. The project seeks to extend the circular economy model through a closed-loop pool system across the supply chain: from beverage and food packers to supermarkets, retail distribution, and logistics centres. This approach increases reuse of polypropylene monomaterial plastic packaging, eliminates single-use cardboard, boosts recyclability and recycling, and significantly reduces waste.
Public Administration Category: Hospital La Paz (Madrid)
The ReConecta plan at Hospital La Paz is built around the “9R Framework,” which guides specific lines of action that have been developed into ongoing projects within the hospital. Initiatives range from sustainable procurement, energy efficiency, and waste reduction to training and awareness-raising for staff. ReConecta has successfully engaged professionals from multiple areas and levels.
Large Company Category: MOEVE Chemicals
Moeve Chemicals is a European pioneer in the use of flexitanks made with recycled content. In 2023, the company began testing the first flexitank with recycled material for the transport of chemical products. This packaging format reduces virgin plastic consumption by up to 18% (polyethylene), improving the sustainability of distribution chains. It is the first recycled-content flexitank loaded in Europe and offers new possibilities for circularity due to its technical features and recyclability potential.
Large Company Honourable Mention: URBASER
The project “Catalogue of Environmental Best Practices of Spanish Companies 2023,” promoted by CEOE, is a descriptive and visual document where Spanish companies present exemplary environmental actions as well as advances in new technologies and investment in innovation. The project follows the success of the first edition published in 2021.
Start-Up Category: Wallapop
Wallapop is a platform for conscious and human-centred consumption that allows users to give a second life to items they no longer need, creating economic opportunities for individuals. Since its launch in 2013, its mission has remained clear: to facilitate more conscious, accessible, and sustainable consumption. Through the platform, millions of people extend the lifecycle of products, reducing waste and avoiding the production of new goods by replacing them with fully functional second-hand items.
Academia Category: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)
The biowaste management system implemented at UAM is based on the separation at source of biowaste generated in cafeterias of the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Psychology, the Rectorate building, and the School of Engineering. Gardening and outdoor cleaning staff collect the waste twice a week (Wednesdays and Fridays), transport it to the designated facility at the university’s Agroecology Space, and carry out the composting maintenance operations.
Communication Category: EFE Verde
EFEverde.com celebrates 15 years as a global Spanish-language environmental information project that has become a benchmark in environmental journalism. It promotes specialised reporting, supports young professionals through scholarship programmes, and offers a space for critical environmental thought by leading experts. Over the years, EFE Verde has achieved milestones such as the designation of European Natura 2000 Day (in collaboration with SEO Birdlife) and the publication of a sustainability guide included in the official luggage of the Spanish Olympic Team at the London 2012 Games.
ABOUT BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition is to be the preferred partner for our customers in their green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees contribute to the success of our customers in virtually all sectors worldwide. Our portfolio is organised into the segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Nutrition & Care (core businesses), and Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions (standalone businesses). BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts in the U.S. (BASFY). More information is available at www.basf.com.
ABOUT THE CLUB DE EXCELENCIA EN SOSTENIBILIDAD
The Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad is a business association composed of leading companies committed to sustainable growth from economic, social, and environmental perspectives. It serves as a benchmark platform in Spain for promoting and disseminating responsible business practices.
