General meeting and annual conference of the German Federal Association for Sustainable Business (BNW)
On 13 October 2025, the members of the German Federal Association for Sustainable Business (BNW) gathered in Berlin for their annual general meeting to discuss current developments, the executive board’s activity report and important decisions for the current and coming year. This was followed by the BNW Annual Conference 2025 on the topic of ‘Cooperation versus Crisis’.
‘Sustainability as a new competitive advantage’ was how Dr Katharina Reuter, Managing Director of the BNW, opened the general meeting and encouraged members to counter the current trend with good examples, innovative companies and great projects. It was a good day for association work and networking, giving a voice to the sustainable economy. The annual conference, organised jointly with the Heinrich Böll Foundation, focused on the central question of how successful cooperation – across industries, institutions and social sectors – can make companies and society crisis-resilient. The focus was in particular on cooperation across competitive boundaries, the attractiveness of value-oriented companies and the shared responsibility of business, politics and civil society in times of crisis. The programme offered a wide range of ideas – from the opening speech by Dr Antje von Dewitz (VAUDE) and the political welcome address by Carsten Träger, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Climate Protection and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). These were supplemented by practical examples of the decarbonisation of supply chains and the scaling of reusable systems, as well as workshops on cooperatives, new work, start-up collaborations and narratives of sustainable business. The event concluded with a high-profile panel discussion on the role of cooperation in climate protection.
Welcome and opening speech by Dr. Katharina Reuter, Managing Director of BNW
Dr Anke Butscher also took part in the general meeting and annual conference, gaining valuable insights for corsus’ consulting work – for example, with regard to innovative approaches in supply chains or the narrative on alternative economies. In addition, existing networks were strengthened and new contacts were made with a view to further expanding cooperation on specific sustainability projects. In view of the current social and, in particular, political headwinds against sustainability, it was particularly important for Anke Butscher to seek dialogue with like-minded companies that are countering this with concrete measures and activities in practice. This commitment is also receiving tailwind from a recent survey of 2,500 European executives: the results show broad support for robust sustainability rules and binding due diligence obligations. The assessments of the executives thus clearly contradict many of the proposals currently being negotiated as part of the EU’s omnibus package.
With the motto “Cooperation against crisis”, the BNW focuses on joint action as a prerequisite for successful transformation. corsus also lives this approach and anchors cooperation in projects, consulting and networks as an important key to resilience and sustainability.
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