"Investments in business and technology help us develop in a sustainable direction" - with this message the Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov presented the awards of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) in the category "Investor in the Environment" at a ceremony on March 19 in Sofia that announced the winners of the Annual Responsible Business Awards for 2023.

Minister Popov congratulated the organisers of the prestigious competition, which has been encouraging good ESG practices and promoting corporate programmes with the greatest contribution to environmental protection every year since 2003.

Handing out the awards, he addressed the honoured investors in the environment sector , saying, "I'm a great believer in business, I'm highly active with the industry, and I will continue to be." The winner of the category is FoodObox for its mobile app that addresses food waste. The second prize was awarded to Solvay Sodi for its Solvay Sodi Environmental and Sustainability Roadmap initiative and third prize to Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (Coca-Cola HBC) for its "My Green City" initiative.

In the 21st edition of the national competition for corporate social responsibility, 126 corporate initiatives were competing with causes divided into 7 categories, with 82 companies having applied. The aim of the BBLF is to encourage good practices of engagement with public causes and to promote the corporate initiatives with the greatest impact.