Steffi Lemke MdB, Federal Minister for the Environment ( BMUV ): “In 2024, the German Ecodesign Award – in its thirteenth year – exceeded the threshold of 400 submissions for the first time. This shows very clearly how much the ecological aspect has become an integral part of design. Today's award-winning projects are pioneers in their respective sectors and combine outstanding design with reduced environmental impact.”
UBA President Dirk Messner: “This year's award winners are providing strong impetus in the areas of circular economy, material development and technological innovation and therefore deserve special recognition. They show how forward-looking design and advanced production methods can reduce the consumption of resources and promote the sustainable use of materials."
Special prize awarded for Timeless Design
This year also highlighted the importance of durable products and timeless design.
Timeless design is characterised by simplicity, functionality, durability and an enduring aesthetic that transcends short-term trends. It combines a high quality of use with a clear design language, creating products that will last for generations.
Thonet's coffee house chair is a prime example of these design principles. Due to its visionary design, which is still valid after more than 160 years, the coffee house chair was awarded the Special "Timeless Design" award.
Werner Aisslinger, jury member: “The minimalist construction of the chair is now regarded as a model for ecological design that is durable, robust and sustainable – a symbol of the combination of traditional craft skills and contemporary environmental responsibility.”
The competition will be announced again across Europe on 20 January 2025
The Federal Ministry for the Environment and the German Environment Agency have been awarding the German Ecodesign Award every year since 2012 together with the International Design Centre Berlin. The competition honours work that is outstanding from an environmental and design perspective, in the four categories of product, service, concept and young talent. It is aimed at companies of all sizes and sectors as well as students throughout Europe.
We are looking for durable and recyclable products, processes and systems that contribute to the transformation towards more Sustainability.
The German Ecodesign Award goes to the following projects:
Young talent category
- Break-up Lab | Sophia Reißenweber (Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle)
- Entopolis – A Serious Game | Anne Carolin Klosson (ecosign / Academy for Design, Cologne)
- Soft Spot | Franziska Baumgartner (Academy of Fine Arts, Munich)
Concept category
- ONOX | Raumideen GmbH & Co KG (Registered office: Pullach)
Service category
- Tork PaperCircle® | Essity Professional Hygiene Germany GmbH (Registered office: Mannheim)
Product category
Special "Timeless Design" award in the Product category
The 2024 German Ecodesign award jury
- Werner Aisslinger (Product Designer)
- Ina Budde (Fashion designer, co-founder and Managing Director of circular.fashion)
- Matthias Held (Product Designer, Professor at the Schwäbisch Gmünd University of Design)
- Dr. Claudia Perren (Architect, Director of the Basel Academy of Art and Design)
- Siddharth Prakash (Head of the Circular Economy and Global Value Chains Group in the Product and Material Flows Division at the Öko-Institut in Freiburg)
- Paula Raché (Communication Designer, works with Material Stories in exhibitions, publications and interdisciplinary workshops)
- Bettina Rechenberg (Head of Department III “Sustainable Products and Production, Circular Economy” at the German Environment Agency (UBA)
- Bettina Hoffmann MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary at the BMUV), represented by Ingo Strube (Division TI3 “Sustainable Consumption, Product-Related Environmental Protection” at the BMUV)
- Michael Volkmer (communication designer, founder of the creative agency Scholz & Volkmer)
Information about the competition
bundespreis-ecodesign.de
Contact for photo material
Luisa Stibbe | presse [at] bundespreis-ecodesign [dot] de
German Ecodesign Award Office
c/o IDZ | International Design Center Berlin e.V.
Markgrafenstraße 88 | 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Postal address: Hagelberger Straße 52 | 10965 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 61 62 321-22
presse [at] bundespreis-ecodesign [dot] de
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