Bravo Sustainability Dialogue & Awards 2025 Concludes, Highlighting Greece’s Commitment to Sustainable Development

The annual Bravo sustainability/” class=”auto-internal-link” title=”Chandon’s Global Strategy: Brazil’s Pivotal Role in Sparkling Wine Market Growth and Sustainability”>Sustainability Dialogue & Awards 2025, a cornerstone event organized by the QualityNet Foundation for the 16th consecutive year, recently concluded, powerfully showcasing the initiatives driving change and supporting a sustainable future for Greece. This esteemed institution operates on a tripartite model: meticulously documenting efforts, presenting significant achievements, and fostering a multi-stakeholder dialogue, all with the ultimate goal of cultivating a broader culture of sustainable development within Greek society.

The annual ceremony, celebrating the leading Sustainable Development Initiatives of the Bravo 2025 institution, unfolded at the Vassilis & Eliza Goulandris Foundation. The event drew an impressive gathering of over 250 attendees and featured 20 distinguished speakers, representing the Church, the State, institutional bodies, and civil society. A highlight of the evening was the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Hellenic Government, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis, who personally presented awards to the protagonists of sustainable development in the Greek market, acknowledging the comprehensive range of initiatives they developed throughout 2025, which holistically addressed critical sustainability themes.

This year’s program saw an impressive 184 initiatives submitted from across the nation, underscoring a growing commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The selection process for these groundbreaking initiatives was rigorously structured: 80% of the evaluation was conducted by specialized Assessment Committees, comprising 60 representatives from academic, institutional, business, and social organizations. The remaining 20% was determined by the engagement of Active Citizens, whose participation has now surpassed 45,000 individuals, reflecting a broad societal interest in these crucial issues. Further details on the award categories and recognized organizations for 2025 are available here.

In her introductory address, Ms. Chrysoula Exarchou, President & CEO of the QualityNet Foundation, meticulously presented the thematic areas that garnered the most significant participation across each core pillar, offering valuable insights into the prevailing trends in Greek sustainability efforts.

Driving Sustainable Progress

Within the **ENVIRONMENT** Pillar, initiatives focusing on the Circular Economy, Climate Change mitigation, and comprehensive awareness & information programs emerged as particularly prominent. These areas signify a market increasingly attuned to resource efficiency and climate resilience, recognizing both the ecological imperative and the economic opportunities in green transitions.

For the **SOCIETY** Pillar, key themes revolved around education and lifelong learning, the cultivation of strategic partnerships, and robust support for Local Communities. This emphasis highlights a collective understanding that societal well-being and equitable development are fundamental to long-term sustainability, fostering human capital and community resilience.

Finally, in the **GOVERNANCE** Pillar, the strongest response was observed in initiatives related to Sustainable Development Strategy, the rigorous practice of Sustainability Reporting, and the integration of Innovation in Product & Service Development. These trends underscore a maturing corporate landscape where transparent reporting, strategic ESG integration, and sustainable innovation are becoming non-negotiable elements of responsible business practice.

The Bravo institution operates under the esteemed auspices of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and several key ministries, including the Ministry of National Economy & Finance, Development, Environment & Energy, Social Cohesion & Family, Education, Religions & Sports, and Digital Governance. It also enjoys the vital support of prominent organizations such as SEV – Sustainable Development Council, EBEA, ELNYAE, CSR HELLAS, ENPE, and KEDE. The event received an official greeting from Bishop Theologos of Talantio, Assistant Bishop & Director of the Pastoral Training Institute of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, representing His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II, further cementing the broad institutional backing for these sustainability endeavors.

The thematic sections of the awards were introduced and enriched by a distinguished roster of participants. For the **Environment** Pillar, insights were shared by Mr. Manolis Grafakos, Secretary General of Waste Management; Mr. Eustathios Stathopoulos, Secretary General of Forests; Dr. Petros Varelidis, Secretary General of Natural Environment and Water, all from the Ministry of Environment & Energy. They were joined by Ms. Dionysia Avgerinopoulou, Chair of the Environment & Water Resources Committee; Mr. George Sp. Alexandratos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping; Professor Konstantinos Aravosis, UNESCO Chair for Green Innovation & Circular Economy at the National Technical University of Athens and Vice President of the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water; and Ms. Eftychia Prantalou, a respected Influencer and Environmental Ambassador.

Discussions for the **Governance** Pillar featured Ms. Aikaterini Oikonomou, Secretary General of the Public Investment Program and National Development Program at the Ministry of National Economy & Economic Affairs; Mr. Aristomenis Giannopoulos, Head of the Listed Companies Supervision Department at the Hellenic Capital Market Commission; Ms. Sofia Kounenaki – Efraimoglou, 1st Vice President of EBEA; and Ms. Diana Georgakopoulou, General Director of the SEV Council for Sustainable Development, each providing critical perspectives on corporate responsibility and strategic oversight.

Finally, the **Society** Pillar benefited from the contributions of Mr. Konstantinos Megaritis, Secretary General of Social Solidarity and Poverty Alleviation at the Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family; Mr. Grigoris Konstantellos, 1st Vice President of KEDE; Ms. Alexandra Palli, President of CSR Hellas; Ms. Eleonora Meleti, Member of the European Parliament, serving on committees for Employment and Social Affairs, Culture and Education, and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality; Professor Andreas Papandreou, Professor of Environmental Economics at NKUA; Dr. Maria Markou, Director of Agricultural Policy, Documentation & International Relations at the Ministry of Rural Development & Food; and Ms. Katerina Gagaki, a Communicator and former Deputy Mayor for Social Solidarity & Civil Society of the Municipality of Athens. Their diverse expertise underscored the multifaceted nature of social sustainability.

The successful culmination of the Bravo Sustainability Dialogue & Awards 2025 serves as a compelling testament to Greece’s accelerating journey towards a more sustainable future. The breadth of initiatives and the depth of engagement from both public and private sectors signal a collective commitment to integrating ESG principles into the national fabric, promising enduring benefits for the economy, environment, and society at large.