Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Malina Krumova presented the awards in the category “Environmental Investor” within the framework of the 23rd edition of the Annual Responsible Business Awards for 2025 of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF). The award ceremony was held on March 16 in Sofia.

“You are showing in reality that a successful business prospers in a successful society. Business cannot be successful if the society around it is not prosperous,” she emphasized.

Deputy Minister Krumova emphasized that the Ministry of Environment and Water consistently supports initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint, promoting the use of waste as a resource for other production, the development of the circular economy, and afforestation.

"The challenges of our time are so many and so great that we cannot cope without being responsible. The responsibility of each of us is different, but without the business we cannot be successful," noted Deputy Minister Krumova.

She congratulated all participants for their efforts and emphasized that the Ministry of Environment and Water will continue to monitor their initiatives with interest and support good practices in the field of sustainable development.

The winners in the "Investor in the Environment" category:

First prize - JTI Bulgaria for the "Drop by Drop" program, aimed at improving access to clean drinking water and hygiene services through partnerships with municipalities and non-governmental organizations.

Second prize - Devin EAD for the project "Chairski Lakes. Biodiversity Capsules in the Rhodope Mountains", which aims to restore peatland ecosystems and preserve biodiversity through nature conservation measures.

Third Prize – Schneider Electric Bulgaria for the project “Schneider Electric Carbon Neutral Factory”, which transformed the company’s production facility into the first functioning carbon neutral industrial site in Bulgaria.

Ninty-one corporate initiatives, divided into 6 categories, represented by 60 companies, participated in the 23rd edition of the national competition for corporate social responsibility.

During the ceremony, Deputy Minister Krumova expressed high appreciation for the efforts of the Bulgarian Forum of Business Leaders to promote good practices of engagement in public causes and to promote corporate initiatives with the greatest impact.