Bra receives second 'Spighe Verdi' environmental award for 2026

The Italian town of Bra was granted the 2026 "Spighe Verdi" (Green Spike) environmental quality label. The flag was presented to the municipal council on 4 August by Fabio Fogliati, zone manager of Confagricoltura. The award, issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education – the same body that awards the Blue Flag to coastal municipalities – recognises virtuous territorial development. This year 97 Italian communes earned the label, seven more than the previous year, with the Piedmont region leading nationally with 22 recognitions.

Mayor Gianni Fogliato and environment assessor Francesca Amato said the award confirms that the town’s strategies on waste management, water, energy and agricultural policies are heading in the right direction and that they will continue to promote these practices, especially among young people. The "Spighe Verdi" programme targets municipalities that aim to enhance their rural heritage and improve environmental practices across criteria such as water, energy, agriculture, waste, urban planning and landscape protection. Certification requires an annual review by a national commission that includes experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, the National Research Council, the Carabinieri and Confagricoltura.