Creating awareness for sustainable transformation together – that was the aim of the German Sustainability Award 2024Innovators and stakeholders from business, politics and society – including numerous prominent faces – met in Düsseldorf to advocate for sustainability and generate visibility for this important issue beyond the green community – but this year there was also fierce criticism of the transparency of the organization and the award ceremony.
Over the last 17 years, the German Sustainability Award has established itself as Europe's most important award for sustainable commitment. It recognizes outstanding achievements in the areas of business, products, architecture, sports, global cooperation and, for the first time, health. The award ceremony is accompanied by the German Sustainability Day - a professional platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices on sustainable transformationAround 3.000 participants and media representatives attended the two-day congress. In 20 program blocks with over 150 speakers, the focus was both on the big picture and on in-depth discussions on the most important topics of ecological change. The aim of the event was to provide trend-setting impulses for shaping a sustainable future. But this year a large shadow hung over the event after research by Der Spiegel questioned the seriousness of the event and some winners subsequently refused to accept the prizes.
Source & Copyright by DNP | Christian Köster
What was the German Sustainability Award 2024 about?
Before we address the current criticism, we first want to take a look at the concept of the German Sustainability Award. This honors companies and organizations that make a significant contribution to sustainable transformation with their products and services. The focus is on six categories, which we will introduce in more detail below:
• Pioneer of corporate transformation
In the "Companies" category, 100 pioneers from various industries such as "Food and Beverages", "Clothing & Accessories" or "Finance and Insurance" will be honored. The spectrum ranges from internationally known corporations to leading medium-sized companies and innovative start-ups. The jury, consisting of 224 experts from research, associations, business and civil society, selects the most convincing examples of Sustainable business management The award winners must set standards in areas such as climate protection, resource efficiency, social responsibility and sustainable value creation put.
• Groundbreaking ecological products
A total of 50 prizes will be awarded in the "Products" category. These can be tangible products, but also services, systems, campaigns and initiatives. The awards are given in five transformation fields: climate, nature, resources, society and value chain. In each transformation field, independent jurors decide on the finalists and winners based on the jury documents, personal expertise and insights of the stakeholder groups they represent. It is important that the products and services are characterized by the fact that they take sustainability into account holistically - from development to production and use to recycling.
• Sustainability in Sport
The German Sustainability Award 2024 places a special focus on the area of “sport”. In the Olympia- and European Football Championship year 2024, players from the world of sport who have taken decisive steps towards sustainability were honored. UEFA EURO 2024 received a special award for the exemplary consideration of sustainability aspects in the planning and implementation of the tournament. The award was accepted on behalf of former national team captain Philipp Lahm at the award ceremony for the German Sustainability Award 2024. It recognizes EURO 2024 as a model for future major sporting events and underlines the potential of sport as a driver of sustainable development.
Source & Copyright by DNP | Christian Köster
• Sustainability in healthcare
For the first time, the German Sustainability Award 2024 also included awards in the “Health” category. The finalists in this area were distinguished by pioneering concepts that combine ecological sustainability with the improvement of healthcare. These include, for example, hospitals with exemplary resource management, sustainably produced medicines and medical devices, and prevention programs that have positive effects on people and the environment. With the new category, the initiators of the German Sustainability Award wanted to underline the need to Health and sustainability to take a holistic view and develop innovative solutions to the challenges in the healthcare sector.
• Architecture for a livable future
In the category “Architecture”, projects and concepts that ecological building with a high quality of life and outstanding design quality. These include architectural projects that demonstrate what sustainable construction can look like in practice, such as energy-efficient buildings with innovative insulation concepts, wooden buildings with minimal CO2 footprint or urban neighborhoods with integrated circular systems. The finalists in this category show that aesthetically pleasing architecture and consistent climate protection do not have to be opposites.
• International cooperation
Projects and initiatives based in Germany that are committed to sustainable global development were honored with the “International German Sustainability Award.” This category recognizes collaborations that make a significant contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development GoalsThe finalists demonstrate how international cooperation can bring about concrete improvements in areas such as poverty reduction, climate protection and education.
• Special prize for sustainable event concepts
Implementing major events in a resource-saving and environmentally friendly manner is still a challenge. Therefore, a special focus of the German Sustainability Award 2024 was on promoting sustainable event conceptsThe "Labor Tempelhof" project received a special prize for its pioneering role. The project, which has been running since 2020, was initiated by the Cradle to Cradle NGO and implemented together with the bands Die Ärzte and Die Toten Hosen. For recyclable Events, “Labor Tempelhof” relies on the use of 100% green electricity, the use of recyclable materials or a consistent reusable system for cups, dishes and cutlery. The project is an example of how large events can be designed sustainably and serves as an inspiration for the entire industry.
Source & Copyright by DNP | Dariusz Misztal
Personal Honors at the German Sustainability Award 2024
In addition to the companies and organizations in the above-mentioned categories, individual, outstanding pioneers of the green transformation were also honored at the German Sustainability Award 2024. These are this year's award winners:
• Mary Robinson – Voice for Global Justice
Former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson received the Honorary Award of the German Sustainability Award 2024 for her decades of commitment. Her commitment is particularly focused on equality, Climate justice and human dignity at the international level. As chair of the group "The Elders" founded by Nelson Mandela, Robinson continues to work tirelessly for sustainable global development.
• Hape Kerkeling – Humor with social responsibility
The popular entertainer, comedian and author Hape Kerkeling was also awarded an honorary prize. For four decades he has shaped the German entertainment landscape with his unique mixture of humor, intelligence and empathy. However, Kerkeling's commitment goes far beyond the stage. He uses his fame to campaign for important social causes. His work for the German AIDS Foundation, "A Heart for Children" and the Animal welfare examples of how celebrities can use their reach for positive social change.
• Emeli Sandé – Musical Ambassador for Diversity
British singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé was honored for her commitment as an activist. She is passionate about the rights of LGBTQ+ community as well as for women and girls in developing countries. With her "Serenge Project", Sandé also brings the cultural diversity of the African continent into the global music scene. Her work underlines the power of music as a medium for social change and cultural understanding.
• Matteo Thun - Pioneer of sustainable design
The renowned Italian architect and designer Matteo Thun received an award for his pioneering achievements in the field of sustainable architecture and pioneering product designHis works impressively demonstrate how aesthetic design and ecological responsibility can go hand in hand.
Source & Copyright by DNP | Christian Köster
Award of the German Sustainability Award 2024
Stars and starlets for more visibility of sustainability: The glamorous award ceremony for the German Sustainability Award 2024 took place over two evenings, with numerous well-known faces from TV, music and entertainment in attendance:
- November 28: On the first evening, the focus was on honoring the 100 winners and finalists in the "Company" category. In addition, special prizes were awarded in the transformation fields of resources, society, nature and climate. Well-known TV presenters such as Judith Rakers, Dirk Steffens, Karsten Schwanke and Ralph Caspers led the program. Star chef Nelson Müller provided culinary delights with a vegetarian dinner. Musical highlights were provided by Nico Santos and the Belgian band "Vaya Con Dios".
- November 29: On the second evening, the awards ceremony took place in the categories of products, sports, architecture and for the International German Sustainability Award. The winners of the first German Sustainability Award for Health were also honored. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented the awards to the pioneers of change in the health care system. The evening was moderated by Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen and ZDF sports presenter Norbert König, among others.
Source & Copyright by DNP | Dariusz Misztal
Critical voices and boycott
Despite the glamorous gala and the numerous prominent award winners and supporters, the German Sustainability Award 2024 faced severe criticism. On the first day of the event, an article appeared in Der Spiegel accusing the organizer of a lack of transparency and accuses the company of an opaque organizational structure. The article also reveals that the award has not been supported by the government since 2023. Nevertheless, the German Sustainability Award has continued to advertise its collaboration with various ministries. This raises questions about the credibility and legitimacy of the event. Another point of criticism concerns the event's financial model. Applicants not only have to pay fees for submitting their projects, but also for using the Siegels and pay for their own participation in the event. This could particularly disadvantage small, committed companies that lack the financial means to cover these expenses. Critics therefore accuse the organizers of the German Sustainability Award of being more concerned with their own profit than with supporting the sustainability movement.
Following the Spiegel publications, two prominent companies in the cosmetics industry therefore decided to boycott the event. Weleda and Börlind both refused to accept their awards and were critical of the practices of the German Sustainability Award. Tina Müller, CEO of Weleda, explained on LinkedIn: "Sustainability requires transparency. And that is precisely what is lacking in the German Sustainability Award." Alicia Lindner, co-CEO of Börlind, expressed similar views, criticizing the opaque processes of the jury's decisions and the high participation fees. At least, according to the two companies, there is a lack of clear, comprehensible standards for the appointment of finalists and winners. "There is neither a comprehensible justification nor a laudation - and therefore no room to learn from each other," said Tina Müller. "How much is a prize worth when not even insiders understand why someone wins?"
Ambivalent conclusion to the German Sustainability Award 2024
When progressive minds from science, business, showbiz and politics come together to exchange ideas, recognize sustainable projects and give green pioneers more visibility, it is fundamentally a good idea. But despite the high-profile participants and many innovative, sustainable projects that were honored on the big stage, the revelations in Der Spiegel and the boycott by Weleda and Börlind cast a large shadow over this year's event.
One thing is certain: we need a format that also reaches people outside the green community through a prominent program like the German Sustainability Award 2024. This is the only way to raise awareness among companies, organizations and individuals to become even more committed to sustainability. One thing is also certain: an event of this magnitude costs an extremely large amount of money, which - if the state does not step in to finance it - has to be borne by companies and private individuals. In order for the German Sustainability Award to have a future after this year's scandal, the organizer must therefore disclose its cost and revenue structures transparently. The criteria that were decisive for the jury's decision-making must also be made comprehensible to the participants. This is the only way to dispel the accusations and focus on what is ultimately decisive: the recognition and promotion of innovative ideas that contribute to the green transformation.
