Torres & Earth Awards for Vitoria-Gasteiz, Consum, Guala Closures Ibérica, Eva Carmona viticulture and economist David Lizoain

The prizes are named after Torres & Earth environmental program that the company launched in 2008 to adapt to global warming and mitigate its effects, and were born in 2017 to specifically encourage wine suppliers to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

The sustainable territory prize was awarded to Vitoria-Gasteiz for improving the quality of life of citizens with sustainable mobility projects and an urban design committed to green spaces and pedestrian and cycle routes, and because the Town Hall promotes Energy Communities for a just and inclusive energy transition. The general director of the Department of Economic Promotion, Employment, Commerce and Tourism of the Basque Town Hall, Maite de Juan, highlighted that in 2012 it was already the first Spanish European green capital.

Economist, writer and popularizer David Lizoain received the Best Communicator Award for his articles and books such as “The End of the First World” and “Climate Crime”, a book which, according to Miguel A. Torres, had an impact on him. Lizoain said there is a latent majority in favor of environmental preservation, but it must be activated, and added that the COP29 climate conference is a lost opportunity, so “we must be outraged” .

The Valencian cooperative Consum S. Coop. received the prize for its TEO (Transport At Origin) project, which reduces CO2 emissions by optimizing time and travel. Representatives of the cooperative assured that, since its founding in 1975, they considered research into sustainability and social responsibility a priority, and Miguel A. Torres also highlighted their humanitarian work in Valencia by awarding them the prize.

The packaging materials supplier was also awarded Guala Closures Ibérica for applying sustainable processes in its facilities, reducing CO2 emissions by 14% since 2020. Their representative said, upon receiving the award, that they have been developing sustainability programs since 2011 and working around the world with this same goal.

Winemaker Eva Carmona received another of the awards recover high altitude crops and preserve the agroforestry mosaic of their territory through respectful agricultural management. Unable to be present, Carmona thanked the award electronically and explained that since 2013 she has been a supplier to Torres with her vineyards in Tremp (DO Costers del Segre).

Miguel A. Torres, for his part, thanked the winners for their environmental efforts, while regretted the results of COP29 and found it contradictory that many senior officials consumed fuel from private planes: “No planet can support” oil production, he added.

Regarding the DANA which particularly affected Valencia, the president of the wine company indicated that “It is not an atmospheric phenomenon like so many others”, but a consequence of global warming. For this reason, he highlighted the efforts of Familia Torres for the climate, such as its commitment to regenerative viticulture techniques in its vineyards and its contribution to biodiversity, the use of photovoltaic panels and the study of new materials of packaging, in addition to the reuse of glass. these and avoid plastic. “This is the only thing we can do, since we cannot stop oil,” he lamented.