The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports is entering its 16th edition.
The theme of this year’s edition is “port projects or strategies in the field of circular economy that benefit the city and/or the surrounding community”.
As multimodal hubs in the supply and logistics chain, nodes of energy and clusters of industry, Europe’s ports can play a crucial role in the transition towards more circularity. Their location in or near urban agglomerations makes ports ideal partners for engaging together with the city and local community in circular economy processes, waste prevention and management and ensuring that resources used are kept in the economy for as long as possible.
The European Commission adopted a circular economy action plan back in March 2020. It is one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal. The aim is to reduce pressure on natural resources and create sustainable growth and jobs. It is also a prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2040 target of 90% net GHG emissions reduction, on our way to the 2050 climate neutrality target.
With this award edition, ESPO aims at showcasing the role certain ports are playing in making circularity work for people, regions and cities and inspiring other ports to follow their example.
The ESPO Award 2024 will go to the port managing body which has been developing a circular economy strategy and/or a significant circular economy project engaging the port as such, involving different stakeholders in or around the port and/or playing an active role in setting up a circular economy project with and to the benefit of the surrounding community.
The ESPO award winner 2024 will be the port managing body which is considering circularity at different levels as a priority and integral part of its greening strategy and is aiming at engaging all relevant stakeholders in its circular approach strategy to the benefit of the citizens and the surrounding community.
Project submissions have to reach the ESPO Secretariat by Friday 5 July 2024 at the latest. The application form and the terms of reference are available on the ESPO website.
The 16th ESPO Award will be officially handed out during an Award Ceremony and Dinner, which will take place in November 2024 in Brussels.
