In his speech, Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier emphasised, “Up to 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined in the design phase. We have launched this contest to uncover the creative potential that exists to improve the ecological quality of products - and how ambitious design, aesthetics and environmental protection can be united. Congratulations to all prize winners who have shown outstanding examples of this.”
From the pool of 300 submissions, 51 projects in the contest categories ‘product’, ‘concept’ and ‘next generation’ were nominated for the national Ecodesign prize. The innovativeness, quality of design and consideration of the environment ultimately convinced the jury to select 14 projects. The prize winners’ names were announced at the award ceremony in the Federal Ministry for Environment. Federal Environment Minister Peter Altmaier and Jochen Flasbarth, President of the Federal Environment Agency, conferred the prizes on the winners.
The jury chairman, Prof. Günter Horntrich (Designer, Professor for Design and Ecology at the Köln International School of Design, KISD), praised the impressive range and quality of the submissions during his speech. He said they demonstrate an in-depth understanding of design and that the ideas of ecodesign have become reality and a fixed part of the design process. The Federal Ministry for Environment and the Federal Environment Agency sponsored the contest in collaboration with the International Design Center Berlin (IDZ).
Members of the jury:
Werner Aisslinger (designer)
Dr. Kirsten Brodde (journalist and author, eco-fashion expert)
Prof. Günter Horntrich (designer, Professor for Design and Ecology at KISD)
Nicola Stattmann (designer, materials expert)
Dr. Rainer Grießhammer (Director, Öko-Institut)
Jochen Flasbarth (President, UBA)
Ursula Heinen-Esser (Parliamentary State Secretary at BMU)
