7 awards
presented in 2026, six categories plus the Champion of the Summit
9 jury members
chaired by a former President of the European Court of Human Rights
4 past winners
sit on the following year’s jury
Overview
The Sustainable Adria Awards recognise individuals, organisations and initiatives making measurable contributions to sustainability across the region. The 2026 awards were presented at the Adria Future Summit in Porto Montenegro in April 2026.
Approach
Recognition is decided by an independent jury on the substance of the work, not on profile or visibility, and the criteria are the same for every entry. The 2026 jury was chaired by Robert Spano, former President of the European Court of Human Rights, and included the World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro alongside four past winners. Nominations run on a published annual cycle in step with the summit.
Impact
The 2026 winners show what the criteria mean in practice. Business of the Year went to A1 Hrvatska for a 58 per cent cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, 93 per cent renewable electricity and a verified zero gender pay gap. Product Innovation went to RCB Nanotehnologija in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose process turns end-of-life tyres into fossil-free carbon black at over 96 per cent purity with no residual waste. Development Initiative went to the Addiko Bank SME Academy, which enrolled 62 companies across three markets at an average revenue growth of 9 per cent. Leader of the Year went to Janez Potocnik, former European Commissioner for the Environment.
