Rental furniture

In 2021, event furniture will be largely rented from the company Adexpo-EMP. The company shows consideration for people and the environment. As a basis, Adexpo-EMP applies the three pillars of corporate social responsibility: People, Planet & Profit.

The core business of EMP Event- and Messe Performance GmbH is rental. Items are being reused, repaired and thus waste is reduced. Furniture is cleaned with biodegradable agents. Waste materials such as plastic, paper and metal are disposed of separately. The vehicle fleet also complies with the latest environmental requirements in order to reduce CO² and carbon emissions. Many energy-saving measures have been implemented in the company buildings, including higher thermal insulation than required. By coupling the warehouse lighting with the amount of incident daylight, electricity consumption has been reduced by almost 20%. Heating is provided by high-efficiency dark radiators that illuminate the floor and the surrounding area. This consumes 25% less gas than conventional heating.

Sustainable Fashion

The attire for the hostess's was produced in 2018 by the fashion label LANIUS and will come back into operation in 2021. LANIUS also equips some of our female presenters with an outfit from their Green Carpet Collection. The label for sustainable women's wear fabricated the dresses with 100% organic cotton, certified by the Global Organic Textile standard customized for the German Sustainability Award Ceremony. To unite ecologic Materials with fair labour conditions and to follow the continual process of a sustainable development, is the foundaition ground LANIUS's corporate understanding and the vision of founder Claudia Lanius is based on.

Sustainable Decoration

Since the premiere in 2008 the award show consequently sets on projections instead of the usual, extensive constructions of decoration. Such projections reduce the waste generated on the event. The used frame constructions are made from FSC®-certified wood. The specifically customized speaker's desks are being placed into storage and reused at every event. In addition the German Sustainability Award resigns consequently on give-aways. Further, our exhibitors are being asked to use sustainable Materials and advertising media for their booth.

Sustainable Mobility at the event via Hyundai

Hyundai provides in 2021 a string of environmentally sound cars for the shuttle service in the course of the German Sustainability Day and the ceremony of the German Sustainability Award. As the exclusive mobility partner, Hyundai arranges the transportation for our guests from the worlds of politics, business, media, sports and local government within Düsseldorf and the surrounding areas.

OBJECT CARPET rolls out the blue carpet

At the ceremony of the German Sustainability Award 2021 the sustainably produced blue carpet comes into operation again. OBJECT CARPET in cooperation with the fiber producer Aquafil (Winner of the special award for resource efficiency 2014) specifically for the German Sustainability Award created a blue carpet made of the yarn ECONYL®. The carpet is being stored and comes into operation again every year for the event. The yarn is composed of regenerated resources. During the fabrication Aquafil used 100% recycled Polyamid which considerably mitigated the ecological impact. Therefore disused Fisher nets were recycled, which otherwise would end up as landfill-waste or strain the oceans. It is estimated that one-tenth (640.000 tonnes) of the total waste in the oceans originates from loose fisher nets (source: UNEP). In addition, the production of ECONYL® has reduced water consumption by 15% and the production of greenhouse gases by 85% compared to conventional yarn production. Furthermore, all raw material residues generated during production are collected, separated and completely returned to the commodity cycle.

OBJECT CARPET has been a full member of the Gemeinschaft umweltfreundlicher Teppichböden e.V. (GuT) since 1992 whose aim is to ensure appropriate measures for the absence of harmful substances in carpet production, as well as to ensure an uncontaminated end product. The products are tested and certified for allergy suitability by TÜV Nord. Due to the measures in production and certification, all OBJECT CARPET qualities meet the requirements for the use in DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) certified buildings. Aquafil is addressing the issue of "waste in the sea" with a new way of extracting raw materials and turning it into a profitable business model. The company has introduced new processes and technologies across several stages of the value chain and established new collaborations with partners to close fiber cycles and significantly improve resource efficiency. The jury of the German Sustainability Award honored Aquafil's ECONYL® regeneration system with the special "Resource Efficiency" award in 2014.

Soft drinks from the partner of the first hour

Coca-Cola Germany again supports the catering of the German Sustainability Day and the award ceremony of the German Sustainability Award 2021 with a selection of its products. In addition to ViO, ViO-BiO-Lemonades and ViO-Spritzers we are delighted to offer Honest Tea , the certified organic tea drink with ingredients from sustainable cultivation.

Green event technology by btl-x

The technical equipment and implementation of the German Sustainability Award is being carried out by btl-x Goup since 2020. Sustainability plays a central role at btl-x. It is perceived as an opportunity and is firmly anchored in the corporate group through sustainability strategies. btl-x has committed itself to the "fairpflichtet" initiative and is also guided by the "SUSTAINABILITY RIDER" guideline in order to realize events that take environmental protection, social justice and economic efficiency into account. Corresponding measures are already taken into account during event planning and optioned on an annual basis. The selection of recyclable and compatible materials was included, as was the deployment of locally based employees, consideration of the shortest possible, environmentally friendly transport routes for smooth logistics, the use of current technologies with low energy consumption (e.g. LED lights instead of conventional stage lighting) and extensive avoidance of waste. All materials used, such as fabrics, plastics and metals, have been examined for their compatibility with nature and, wherever possible, replaced by environmentally friendly alternatives. Decorative components are reused or recycled several times.

Germany's most environmentally friendly print shop

Since 2009, the Druckstudio Group has been our printing partner. Its production is certified according to the criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), and in June 2012 it was voted 1st in the ranking of environmentally friendly print shops. In the use of printed pieces, 100% recycled paper with the Blue Angel was used without exception. In addition, all printed pieces are printed in a climate-neutral manner - the CO₂ generated emissions are compenseted.

Recycled PET bottles as stage backdrops

The fabric walls used (e.g. the stage backdrops, signposts and press walls at the congress and awards ceremony) have been provided by the company CCS digital_fabric® since 2012. This company produces large-format digital textile prints for all areas of interior design and uses almost entirely an exclusively developed fine fabric made of 100% recycled PET as a substrate. Compared to conventional polyester fabric, less water is used in yarn production, fewer CO₂ emissions are produced, and important raw materials - especially crude oil - are saved. Many of these prints are reused annually, and prints that are no longer needed can be easily recycled.

Sustainable set construction at the event

The set construction for the German Sustainability Award 2021 is created in cooperation with the company setcon Event & Expodesign GmbH.

By incorporating durable exhibition systems, regular new productions for one-off uses were avoided, recyclable parts were stored and residual materials were reused as part of an upcycling process. In addition, the company is persistently committed to finding sustainable alternatives in its choice of materials and uses, for example, energy-saving solutions for lighting and FSC-certified wood.

The versatile divisions present in the company and the broadly positioned production allow short communication paths between all necessary contact persons. Resource and energy consumption through mobility were thus reduced, suppliers were mostly located in the direct vicinity of the company site.

Location with comprehensive sustainability management

At the MARITIM Hotel Düsseldorf, attention is paid to sustainable management in the areas of energy, waste and water treatment. To achieve this, the following measures have been taken into account: The hotel is supplied with electricity through the use of a combined heat and power plant and also purchases green electricity; a usage-controlled lighting concept and optimized sun protection ensure energy efficiency; a supply and exhaust air system with efficient heat recovery optimizes the air quality; water-saving devices minimize water consumption in all sanitary facilities; in the kitchen area, the hotel uses energy-efficient kitchen appliances; a modern waste management system, a waste separation officer and regular checks as well as an annual waste balance sheet contributes to proper separation; to minimize packaging material, mainly reusable and recycled packaging is used, the hotel asks all suppliers to take back packaging for recycling; for cleaning the event rooms, only agents with the "eco seal" are used, the cleaning agents are used particularly sparingly by means of special dosing systems. The MARITIM Düsseldorf trains its employees externally and internally in the areas of technology and waste disposal. In the area of catering for the German Sustainability Day, attention is paid to the use of food with regional and seasonal references, fair trade and ecological cultivation. Outside of our event, the hotel offers a sustainable alternative for meetings and events with the Green Meeting conference package. Due to a direct train connection and the immediate vicinity to Düsseldorf Airport, travel distances of guests and participants can be reduced. The hotel's premises also offer the possibility of holding both events, congress and awards ceremony, with very different requirements in one place. The majority of the guests and crew can also be accommodated.

Under the name "ProEnvironment", the MARITIM Group has launched an initiative aimed at environmental protection and sustainable business. For example, an inventory has been carried out for all hotels in the areas of energy, waste, water, purchasing, mobility and employees. In addition, employees throughout Germany have been trained as sustainability advisors who are leading the project. In 2013, MARITIM also signed a declaration of support for the Sustainability Code of the German Event Industry (fairpflichtet). This is an initiative of the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the European Association of Event Centers (EVV). (EVV) and was launched in 2012. MARITIM is thus committed to a responsible approach in all important areas of ecology, economy and social components. The Sustainability Code defines ten guidelines that are to be taken into account in sustainable management. The declaration of support is a voluntary commitment to sustainable action, the results of which are documented and measured after one year.

Bio-Beer from the pioneers of its industry

At the German Sustainability Award 2021, beer from the Clemens Härle brewery will once again be served. The family-run private brewery in the Allgäu region (in 2010 among the top 3 in the category "Germany's Most Sustainable Companies") is an industry pioneer in sustainability. Since January 1, 2009, for example, the brewery has used only renewable energy sources; its operational fresh water consumption has been reduced to a minimum through a series of investments. The company is the first brewery in Germany to produce and distribute its beers in a 100% climate-neutral manner.

Biodynamic Wine from Alois Lageder

Since 2008, the wine for the event has come from organic pioneer Alois Lageder, who has developed Tenutae Lageder, a Demeter-certified farm. Promotion of biodiversity, compost instead of artificial fertilizers, the conscious use of natural and renewable energy sources (among other things by generating their own electricity with modern photovoltaic systems) are just a few examples of integrated cultivation for the benefit of sustainable environmental protection.

Sustainable coffee bar

In the coffee bar of the German Sustainability Day 2021 the congress participants will be served with fair trade coffee and small packages for milk of sugar will be avioded. The coffee comes from our sponsor Bean United. Bean United is Germany's leading social coffee company with the mission to provide alimentation, education and opportunities to young people in developing countries. To achieve this goal, Bean United cooperates with sustainable companies and offers them "office coffee as a CSR tool": for every kilo of Bean United coffee beans, 10 school meals are provided in Burundi, thus promoting education. Following this path, Bean United in cooperation with Adobe, Allianz, dean&david and Salesforce has enabled more 350.000 school meals in just two years - from 2022 on 1 Million annually are aspired.

Operating partners in such projects are the Welthungerhilfe as well as selected Charities and social companies for individual projects. Effectivity, Efficiency and Transparency are crucial parameters for the selection of partners. CSR and sustainability managers appreciate the easy implementation of the concept in the company and the measurability of the social impact of coffee consumption on the SDGs. School children receive food-for-education. And coffee farmers benefit from fair prices and direct trade. Win-win-win.

Baked goods according to slow baking guidelines

Baked goods in 2021 are once again delivered by baker Schüren, top 3 in the category "Germany's most sustainable future strategies 2013". In line with the motto "Think globally, act locally," the medium-sized artisan bakery from the Düsseldorf area sources its grain from organic farmers. The baked goods are inspected and certified according to organic guidelines and awarded the quality rules of slow baking e.V.