The European Business Award for the Environment
1 March The European Commission launched in 1987 the "European Business Award for the Environment" (EBAE) in order to recognize, reward and promote the achievements of companies who pioneer environmentally friendly policies and products. The prizes, awarded by the European Commission every two years, single out European companies that have made an outstanding contribution to sustainable development in four categories: management, products, processes, and international cooperation. From 2012 the edition of the prize will include a new 'Business & Biodiversity' award to the company with outstanding achievements in halting biodiversity loss and supporting natural ecosystems. The competition is open to any company irrespective of size, from EU Member States and candidate countries. All entries are finalists of their national competitions, an essential prerequisite for participation at EU level.