Legambiente Innovation Award 2025
The Legambiente Innovation Award, now in its 19th edition – organised in partnership with the EY Foundation and media partner La Nuova Ecologia e Innovazione Sociale – seeks to promote research and support the dissemination of practices aimed at environmental sustainability, highlighting organisations that contribute to addressing environmental challenges and supporting economic and social development.
Participants can enter the competition by registering through the online call, free of charge, until 31 August 2025. Eligible participants include start-ups, innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), university or company spin-offs, and benefit companies involved in product, process, service, technological, management, or social innovations.
Entries should focus on reducing environmental impacts, increasing resilience to climate change effects, and demonstrate originality, replicability, and development potential. Priority is given to activities led by young individuals residing in Italy or another European Economic Area country, provided they have a production site or branch in Italy. In case of equal rating, preference is given to whose average age is under 35.
There are five competition categories, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda:
1) Agriculture and Agri-Food Supply Chains;
2) Sustainable Mobility;
3) Smart Living: Innovations to improve life in small municipalities and smart cities;
4) Circular Economy;
5) Energy Transition.
Each category winner will receive a cash prize of EUR 2,500 and the right to use the Innovation Award 2025 logo.
Evaluation criteria include waste reduction throughout the innovation’s life cycle, positive environmental impacts (on air, water, soil, land, and biodiversity), influence on purchasing or consumption habits, potential effects on production and consumption systems, and measurable benefits to local communities such as asset recovery, welfare improvements, and area rehabilitation. Communication of social and environmental performance is also assessed.
The Scientific Evaluation Committee includes representatives from Legambiente, Fondazione CARIPLO, Fondazione CON IL SUD, Fondazione SODALITAS, Kyoto Club, Politecnico di Milano, University of Milan (Departments of Environmental Sciences and Policies, and of Cultural and Environmental Heritage), IED, and EY Foundation.
The award ceremony is scheduled for November at the ADI Museum in Milan. The jury may also grant additional mentions beyond the main winners.