Against rollback and crisis mode:
The transformation congress of the year.
As the only platform of its kind, #DNP25 will be the meeting place for everyone involved in shaping sustainability in business, politics and society.
Among the 150 participants on four stages are WTO Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, Federal Minister Karin Prien, UNIDO Secretary-General Dr Gerd Müller, climate researchers Prof. Johan Rockström and Prof. Mojib Latif, bestselling author Prof. Maja Göpel, publicist Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen and climate activist Vanessa Nakate. Philippe Starck, one of the most influential designers of our time, brings a creative perspective to transformation.
The 100 most successful companies of the year present their solutions – concrete, cross-industry and practical. For the first time, the congress, award ceremonies and networking are coming together in an integrated format: compact, high-quality and inspiring. Experience MasterClasses with the best companies, TransMissions in the key areas of transformation and a new networking event for exchange on equal terms. Düsseldorf becomes a hotspot for the transformation of the economy.
#DNP25
The congress.
To the tickets
To the Congress programm
Transparency as a principle.
Openness and transparency are core values of the DNP – that is why we have joined the Transparent Civil Society Initiative (ITZ). More communication about methodology, changes to the jury process and more transparent scoring are among the developments for the 18th DNP. Everything you need to know about the rules and governance can be found in a clearly structured document.
Three voices for responsibility and change.
Honorary Award of the German Sustainability Award
for Johan Rockström, Mojib Latif and Maja Göpel
The German Sustainability Award honours three of the most influential voices in the climate debate in 2025: Prof. Johan Rockström, Prof. Mojib Latif and Prof. Maja Göpel.
"Rockström, Latif and Göpel combine analysis, education and a new beginning to form a common stance," says the German Sustainability Award Foundation, explaining the reasons for the award. "They show what science can achieve when it has an impact beyond disciplines: they make visible what is at stake, understandable what needs to be done, and tangible that change remains possible.“
Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, has created a guiding principle with planetary boundaries that combines ecological stability and economic development.
Mojib Latif, President of the Academy of Sciences in Hamburg, has been shaping the climate debate for decades – as a persistent educator and credible voice of scientific reason.
Maja Göpel, transformation researcher and author, connects science, politics and society. She develops new models for economic activity within ecological and social limits.
The three scientists will receive their awards during the #DNP25 Opening Night, which will also feature Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen, Prof. Claudia Kemfert, Vanessa Nakate, Dirk Steffens and Prof. Harald Lesch.
These are the finalists in the competition.
In the second round of judging, around 240 experts from research, business, associations and civil society in 100 industries voted for the best entries.
The expert juries of the 18th DNP for companies have selected the three most convincing finalists in each industry. Their decision is based on a scoring system that reflects the companies' transformation achievements on the basis of sustainability reports and/or other published data. The experts evaluate innovative strength, pioneering role and signal effect, as well as the scalability and leverage effect of their contributions and the dynamics of their development.
Pioneer in 100 industries
To the new #DNP25 and the MasterClasses
The finalists and winners are the beacons of their industries – and provide impetus for an economy that is fit for the future. Their best practices are not only honoured, but also passed on: on 4 and 5 December 2025, the industry winners will present their strategies in the newly designed ‘MasterClasses’ congress format. There, guests will learn from the best and take away successful approaches for their own practice. The work of the 100 expert juries forms the foundation for making the diversity and innovative strength of sustainable companies visible and effective.
Honorary award for Philippe Starck.
The world's most successful product designer, Philippe Starck, is coming to Düsseldorf. The DNP is honouring him for decades of inspiration and for shaping an unmistakable language – bold, poetic and subversive. Today, his work stands for responsibility: timeless forms, recyclable materials and circular approaches that combine design and sustainability.
Partner of the Company Award: DIHK at #DNP25.
In 2025, the DIHK will continue to support the DNP as an institutional partner, contributing its expertise to the jury and participating in #DNP25 events. Now in its tenth year, the partnership underscores the shared goal of a more sustainable economy.
The finalists DNP companies.
In cooperation with the DIHK and other partners, the DNP is once again honouring the pioneers of sustainability in 100 industries. The expert juries are now deciding on the finalists. The festive conclusion will be the award ceremony on the evening of 5 December, when the ‘big picture’ of the 100 winners will emerge and special prizes will be awarded in five key areas of transformation.
DNP products. The finalists have been decided.
The German Sustainability Award Products honours sustainable products, services or projects. The search was on for outstanding innovations that have a measurable impact in the areas of climate, resources, nature, value chains and society. The winners will be announced on 4 December 2025.
Sustainability in healthcare.
The German Sustainability Award for Health focuses on the important link between health and sustainability. The jury has made its decision: the finalists have been selected.
The award is presented in cooperation with BARMER and the Healthy Earth – Healthy People Foundation.
Role models for transformation in the construction sector.
The finalists for the German Sustainability Award for Architecture have been announced. The jury, made up of renowned architects and experts from the construction industry, has identified the pioneers of transformation in the construction sector. The award honours groundbreaking projects that are rethinking the future of construction.
The DNP from the inside.
More communication on methodology, changes to jury processes and more transparent scoring – these are some of the developments at the 18th German Sustainability Award. Everything you need to know about the DNP rules and governance can be found in a clearly structured document. Openness and transparency are important to us – that is why we have joined the Transparent Civil Society Initiative.
DNP once again ranked No. 1 among sustainability awards.
The University of Hohenheim presented the follow-up study to its 2017 survey, which identified the DNP as the best-known and most sought-after award among companies. In the new study on the ‘Changing Significance of Sustainability Awards’ – funded by the Federal Environmental Foundation – the DNP ranks first among 141 sustainability awards as the best known and one of the three most credible.
Compliant with DNP EmpCo and Green Claims standards.
The DNP's company and product price seals are not official environmental labels within the meaning of the Green Claims Directive or EmpCo, but rather awards for holistic sustainability performance, granted on the basis of a transparent competition. Through clear labelling and proper use, they remain credible, legally compliant communication tools.
Record attendance at the
German Sustainability Day 2024.
Almost 3,000 guests attended the two-day congress.
and to the two award ceremonies in Düsseldorf.
The 17th German Sustainability Day took place with record attendance. Almost 3,000 representatives from business, politics, research and civil society came together to honour the best examples of successful transformation. Twenty programme items at five locations provided the ‘big picture’ and in-depth insights into the most important topics of transformation. The networking opportunities made every participant part of the debate.
Among others, Federal Minister Klara Geywitz and Prof. Karl Lauterbach, Minister of State Claudia Roth, State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir (BMI) and EU Vice-President Dr. Katarina Barley praised the companies and institutions – including UEFA Euro24 and the event project ‘Labor Tempelhof’.
Short video of the award ceremony on 28 November 2024
Short video of the award ceremony on 29 November 2024
The DNP's digital magazine provides unique insights into key sustainability issues. Learn more about the 100 winners of the German Sustainability Award for Companies 2024 and their strategies and projects, gain new perspectives on key sustainability issues in society, business, healthcare, sport and architecture, and get to know the thought leaders and trendsetters of transformation from the DNP network.