Two Spanish students among the winners of the 2025 Wege Awards for their proposal to curb antimicrobial resistance with sustainable wastewater treatment.

Madrid, June 12 (EFEverde).- Two students from the University of Malaga, Iván Toro Pineda and José Antonio Vera Lozano, have been internationally recognized with the 2025 Wege Award for their contributions to combating antimicrobial resistance through circular economy-based solutions for wastewater treatment.

Both biology students are part of the Envirovex team, an international student team that was one of three award winners in this competition. The team, which includes Pineda and Vera, was recognized for its innovative design of a bio-based wastewater treatment system, which seeks to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance while promoting a closed-loop model for water and resource management, the award's promoters explained in a statement.

The Wege Prize, organized by the Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University (USA), is considered one of the most influential sustainable design competitions for young university students. In this 2025 edition, 90 teams from 31 countries participated, and the three winning projects shared a total of $65,000.

Envirovex received the third prize, worth $10,000 , for its proposal focused on sustainable wastewater treatment, a critical area in the fight against the global climate and health emergencies. Its solution incorporates principles of the circular economy and regenerative production, aimed at reducing environmental impacts and global health risks.

Along with them, the Agpress team (first prize) was recognized for developing a protein-enriched flour from mealworms and corn to combat malnutrition, and Rethread Africa (second prize) for transforming sugarcane bagasse into a biodegradable textile alternative.

To learn more about the winning teams and their proposals: www.wegeprize.org/2025-teams .