The Russian Museum in Málaga hosted the latest edition of FOREVER GREEN DAY, organised by Real Betis Balompié, which brought together experts and professionals committed to sustainability. This annual event thus reinforces its position as one of Europe’s leading forums for addressing environmental challenges through collaboration between sport, business, science and innovation.
During this specialist event, it was announced that the Green-and-White club will launch a design competition for the conceptual design of the next special jersey for the Forever Green match in the 2026/27 season. This is a pioneering initiative, open to all, which will allow fans and the general public to participate for the first time in the creation of this jersey, which generates so much excitement every year.
The launch of this project, which will be presented in greater detail in the coming weeks, will enable the Club to gather proposals for stories, materials, designs or concepts related to sustainability, with the aim of identifying the idea that will inspire Forever Green’s environmental campaign for 2027, thereby reinforcing the role of public participation as a driving force for change and awareness.
Top-class presentations
Throughout the day, participants reflected on sport’s unique ability to raise social awareness and amplify messages with a global impact, harnessing its reach to inspire behavioural change and promote solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges. Through representatives from various sports (football, tennis and cricket) and with the participation of experts from different fields (academia, business, sport and civil society) from countries such as Spain, England, Italy, Germany, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and India, the Verdiblancos organisation sought to highlight the value of international and multidisciplinary collaboration in driving environmental action.
Launched by Rafael Muela, a director at Real Betis Balompié and a trustee of the Foundation, and by Enrique Pérez, CEO of Málaga CF, and moderated by journalist Sara Hormaechea, the event also provided an opportunity to share experiences, innovative projects and success stories that demonstrate how collaboration between different sectors can accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable model.
The first presentation was given by Professor Ángel Enrique Salvo Tierra, from the University of Málaga, who delivered a talk entitled ‘The importance of urban biodiversity and green spaces in cities’, focusing on the strategic value of urban green spaces in combating climate change and improving citizens’ well-being. Indeed, this line of work ties in with the Club’s latest campaign, ‘Green living starts in the neighbourhood’, which linked urban health with the preservation of trees.
Next up was Piera Abramo, Head of Sustainability at Udinese Calcio, with her presentation ‘Shaping the future: sustainability and innovation at the Bluenergy Stadium’. In her talk, she demonstrated how a stadium can go beyond its sporting function and become a hub for generating clean energy for the surrounding area, thanks to initiatives such as the energy community established in the Udine neighbourhood using electricity produced by the stadium’s solar panels.
The third slot was taken by Eşref Hilmi Açık, co-founder of Oleatex, an innovative company that develops 100% vegan leather materials made from olive oil industry waste as an alternative to traditional leather. His presentation, entitled ‘From olive by-products to materials on a global scale: circular innovation and opportunities for Andalusia’, highlighted the potential of the circular economy and the opportunities for sustainable innovation linked to the Andalusian olive sector.
And to round off the session, Alexis Terrón, a PhD in Biology specialising in coral conservation and director of the MedCoral programme, run by the Hombre y Territorio Association, gave a presentation entitled ‘Restoring Mediterranean Coral’, in which he discussed the marine restoration and conservation work currently underway to protect the Mediterranean’s coral ecosystems, as well as the importance of scientific and social collaboration in preserving marine biodiversity in the face of the effects of climate change and human pressure.
Key figures in environmental action
The event also served as the setting for the presentation of the 2026 Forever Green Awards, which recognise those from various sectors of society who work to promote greater environmental awareness and a more sustainable future. The winners, presented by The Future Makers—an event partner and consultancy specialising in promoting the value of sport as a driver of economic development, social impact and environmental sustainability—were:
–The AELTC Wimbledon, recognised in the ‘Environmental Leadership in Sport’ category for embedding sustainability across all aspects of the management of one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, setting a benchmark for the industry.
-The ‘Biodiversity Award’ has been presented to the Asian cricket team Desert Vipers, in recognition of their commitment to raising awareness through sport with initiatives such as the BioBlitz project and the special jersey depicting global biodiversity loss.
-Ernesto Montoya (@viejatierra), a promoter of natural and historical heritage, in the ‘Environmental Awareness Project’ for his significant work in raising environmental awareness and fostering greater social awareness of environmental protection among young people.
–Viva con Agua in the ‘Climate Activism’ category for mobilising thousands of people in support of social and environmental causes, demonstrating the transformative power of collective action.
–EFE VERDE, in the ‘Media Organisation with an Environmental Commitment’ category, for its ongoing contribution to environmental reporting and awareness-raising, highlighting the key challenges and solutions for a more sustainable future.
Rafa Muela, manager of the Real Betis Balompié Foundation, brought the event to a close, highlighting the importance of creating forums such as FOREVER GREEN DAY to foster partnerships and impactful projects. He also reaffirmed the Club’s commitment to integrating sustainability as a strategic pillar of its activities both on and off the pitch.
To round off the event, guests enjoyed a cocktail made with locally sourced, seasonal produce – a choice in line with the sustainability values promoted by Forever Green. The gathering also featured several prize draws, including a recycled travel kit from Trainline, as well as T-shirts and scarves, all in an atmosphere that encouraged conversation and networking amongst the attendees.
The success of previous editions, held in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, has been replicated in Málaga, where FOREVER GREEN DAY has once again brought together leading figures from various sectors with a shared goal: to demonstrate that sport can be an effective tool for raising awareness, bringing society together and driving initiatives that have a positive impact on the planet.
About Forever Green
Forever Green is Real Betis Balompié’s sustainability platform. Launched in 2020, this initiative harnesses football’s global reach and power to mobilise people in order to drive the fight against climate change and promote social transformation.
This ongoing commitment has established the Green and White club as an international benchmark in environmental management, a position endorsed by the consultancy firm Brand Finance, which ranks Real Betis as the most sustainable club in LaLiga and second in the European rankings.
