The WeMed Award (the Mediterranean Sustainability Award) returns for its fifth edition, with the aim of promoting an inclusive transition towards sustainability in the Mediterranean.
The award is organised by MedWaves, the Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) of the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), and seeks to highlight sustainable businesses in their early and growth stages, with particular attention to the link between green and social innovation.
Objectives of the Award
The 2026 edition of the WeMed Award aims to highlight businesses that are driving the transition towards sustainable business models in the green, blue and circular economy sectors.
It also seeks to showcase entrepreneurial experiences capable of generating tangible impact, while inspiring other economic actors to integrate environmental and social innovation into their business models, thereby promoting the wider diffusion of these practices across the region.
The Award also aims to contribute to strengthening an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports the growth of circular economy businesses, by recognising the most effective and scalable initiatives.
In this perspective, the WeMed Award enhances the visibility of businesses’ contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Mediterranean, with particular reference to SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. Specific attention is given to circular business models as a whole, rather than individual actions or products.
The WeMed Award focuses on businesses at two key stages of their development: the early stage (Early Stage) and the growth stage (Growth Stage). The Award concentrates its support on these two phases, recognising those entrepreneurial initiatives with the greatest potential to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable, circular and inclusive economy.
For this reason, the WeMed Award is structured into two main categories:
Category A – Early Stage (€20,000)
This category recognises sustainable business models at an early stage.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
• products or services on the market for less than 3 years;
• integration of environmental and social values into the business model;
• economically viable business model;
• business plan with potential environmental, social and/or ecosystem regeneration benefits (including nature-based solutions), not necessarily already implemented;
• for-profit or non-profit entities (SMEs, self-employed groups, cooperatives, foundations, etc.) with a maximum of 25 employees;
• entities legally established in one of the eligible territories.
Category B – Growth Stage (€20,000)
This category recognises sustainable business models at the growth stage.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
• operating companies whose business started between a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 10 years ago, with measurable environmental and social benefits;
• companies with more than 10 years of activity that have transformed their traditional model into sustainable and/or regenerative practices, including nature-based solutions, with strong social impact and an economically viable model;
• for-profit or non-profit entities with a maximum of 250 employees;
• companies legally established in one of the eligible countries;
• business plans with potential or actual environmental and social benefits.
Applications must be submitted by 14:00 on 30 July 2026.