The Basque Country boasts two finalists in the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) European Awards. The selected initiatives are those promoted by the MATER Ecoactive Museum Boat and Alava Provincial Council, which have entered the European phase after having won the European Week for Waste Prevention 2025 in the Basque Country, organised by the European Commission and coordinated by the Public Company for Environmental Management, Ihobe.

The MATER Ecoactive Museum Boat in Pasaia and Alava Provincial Council initiatives have been selected as finalists for the European Awards after having won the European Week for Waste Reduction 2025 in the Basque Country

The European Week for Waste Reduction European Awards aim to recognise the most outstanding actions carried out within the framework of this initiative, which focuses on waste reduction, product reuse and raising awareness of responsible consumption. 

Last year's edition focused on the generation and management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), as it is the fastest growing waste fraction in the European Union. Within the framework of the week, more than 13,000 actions were carried out across all EU countries and two Basque initiatives have been selected as finalists, namely those carried out by MATER and Alava Provincial Council.

The MATER Ecoactive Museum Boat project has been selected as a finalist in the category of Associations for its work in the field of raising environmental awareness in relation to marine waste. The initiative is developed through educational activities aimed at raising awareness of the impact of waste in the marine environment. More specifically, “Zero Zabor Uretan” is an action to raise awareness of marine waste that has reached extensive implementation across the region, having visited eight ports along the Basque coast and 17 municipalities.

Last year, more than 13,000 actions were implemented across the European Union

The project represents working together for a healthy sea, based on education, raising awareness and shared action to address an increasingly prevalent form of pollution: marine litter.

The initiative presented by Alava Provincial Council has been selected as a finalist for its contribution to waste reduction via actions backed by the public administrations. “Re-Viste tu Mente”, which is a finalist in the Public Administrations category, proposes a comprehensive response to the growing problem of textile waste, combining actions to raise social awareness and practical suggestions for reuse.

Alava Provincial Council considers it essential to continue working and demonstrating that prevention begins with everyday gestures. It is necessary to highlight the fact that small actions can bring about major transformations at home, in terms of consumption and how new opportunities are given to garments. On this path, it considers that young people play a key role. They are a driving force for change and an active agent in the adoption of responsible and sustainable habits.

The awards ceremony will be held on June 4 in Brussels

The European Week for Waste Reduction, which will hold its 2026 edition between 21st and 29th November, is an initiative that fosters the organisation of actions to raise awareness about waste reduction across Europe. Within this framework, the annual European Awards recognise the most outstanding initiatives developed in different categories (Public Administrations, Associations-NGOs, Educational Centres, Citizens and Business). 

Projects from the Basque Country are participating in this final phase after having been selected as winners of the European Week for Waste Reduction 2025, which was held last November, and they will represent the Basque Country in the European final of this initiative.

The European Week for Waste Reduction European Awards ceremony will be held in June 4 in Brussels, where the winning projects in each of the categories will be announced.