The Creative Recycling Caravan, a project carried out by OSCAR Downstream and the PlaYouth Association, has added another recognition to its list of distinctions, being acknowledged for its impact on children and parents at the Leaders for Little Leaders Gala – powered by Itsy Bitsy.

OSCAR Downstream joins the ranks of Romanian brands awarded in the "Edutainment Leadership Award for Business Organization" category, alongside IKEA, LEGO, Auchan Romania, AQUA Carpatica Kids, Veruvis KIDS, Banca Comercială Română, PPC, Essilor, Crystal Dental Clinic, Medicover, and Electrolux.

"It is an honor to stand alongside companies that are leaders in their fields, organizations that understand the importance of taking social responsibility for a sustainable future in Romania," said Nicolae Bănică, CEO of OSCAR Downstream.

*"OSCAR Downstream believes in the power of the business sector to build a better future, but also in change that starts with ourselves – and, through us, with those around us. The Creative Recycling Caravan takes place in schools, but its primary impact is felt within families, shaping the relationship between children and parents.

Participants learn about responsible consumption and understand that their decisions and actions have long-term consequences. Over time, these behavioral changes, repeated in every household within the community, trigger an irreversible transformation and contribute to the sustainable development of society as a whole."*

Luiza Dumitru, Communication & Marketing Director at OSCAR Downstream, adds: *"The Creative Recycling Caravan is a special project for us because it focuses on children and addresses two key areas of our sustainability strategy – education and the environment.

The project grows year by year, and we are pleased to see how it is starting to transform local communities. We have recently launched the third edition, and the enthusiasm of participants (students, teachers, parents, and social actors) already promises another successful campaign."*

The Creative Recycling Caravan is a national project dedicated to teachers and students in pre-university education, encouraging creative waste recycling and raising awareness of the effects of consumerism on the environment.

After its first two editions, the campaign has reached approximately 135,000 indirect beneficiaries and has developed creativity and sustainability hubs in 12 counties across the country – Călărași, Giurgiu, Brașov, and Sibiu (in 2023) and Sălaj, Bistrița-Năsăud, Arad, Timiș, Satu Mare, Maramureș, Cluj, and Bihor (in 2024).

This year's edition will expand to 8 new counties (Bacău, Neamț, Gorj, Vâlcea, Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți, Alba, and Hunedoara), with the objective of involving over 1,300 teachers from 160 educational institutions and more than 20,000 students.

The long-term impact of the Creative Recycling Caravan has been recognized by the sustainability community in Romania, with the campaign receiving multiple awards throughout 2024. The project was awarded GOLD in the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" category in the Community Index 2024 ranking, as well as:

• Second place in the "Environment" category at the Romanian CSR Awards – The Sustainable Companies Gala
• Sustainable Business Hero Award at the Biz Sustainability Awards 2024
• Award for "Most Responsible Companies in Romania 2024" by BUSINESS Magazin
• Award for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goal "Quality Education" at the Developing Sustainable Romania Gala