Review: 18th German Sustainability Award 2025 – Making change visible
The award ceremony and accompanying #DNP25 congress for the 18th German Sustainability Award in Düsseldorf once again demonstrated how innovation, social and environmental responsibility, and business success can go hand in hand. Jury members Ulrike Eberle and Anke Butscher from corsus attended the award ceremony and made contacts with award winners, many company representatives and civil society actors.
A total of 47 solutions were honoured in the ‘Products’ category – products, services and systems that are innovative in terms of climate, environment, resources, value chain or social change, demonstrate measurable progress and achieve impact. At the same time, 100 companies received the ‘Pioneers of Transformation’ award – a sign of how broadly the economy in Germany is now positioned.
With around 3,000 participants, the #DNP25 congress made sustainability a topic for business, politics, science and civil society. Especially in view of global ecological crises and economic and social challenges, #DNP25 sends an important signal: sustainability is not a nice-to-have – it is urgently necessary and economically relevant. The award shows that change is not only possible but urgently needed, and that sound research, committed companies and forward-looking decision-makers are opening up scope for action despite global setbacks.
Prof. Johan Rockström at the presentation ceremony for the 18th German Sustainability Award
Dr Ulrike Eberle and Dr Anke Butscher at the presentation ceremony for the 18th German Sustainability Award
Another important item on the agenda was the presentation of honorary awards. The recipients were transformation researcher Prof. Maja Göpel, climate researcher Prof. Mojib Latif, climate activist Vanessa Nakate and Prof. Johan Rockström from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Rockström issued an urgent warning about the proximity to planetary tipping points and called for a new understanding of sustainable development. At the same time, however, he expressed hope that if we act consistently and implement sustainability, we can still prevent the worst effects of climate change, for example. Not implementing sustainability is not an option, however – it would be a dead end. Latif emphasised the social dimension of climate policy, while Göpel highlighted truthfulness, foresight and generosity as key factors in times of crisis. Vanessa Nakate underscored the importance of climate justice and stressed that global solidarity and decisive action are necessary to effectively limit the consequences of global warming.
The participation of Dr Ulrike Eberle and Dr Anke Butscher as jury members underscores the importance that the DNP attaches to specialist knowledge. After all, the success of sustainable solutions depends on good ideas, sound expertise and critical reflection. For corsus, the DNP 2025 makes one thing clear: sustainable solutions must be visible and celebrated. The award-winning products and companies are role models, but at the same time they also challenge other companies to follow suit.
Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis e.V.
