Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks said: "We want the competition to encourage more critical reflection on the impact of our consumer habits on the environment and other social factors. As far as the design of products and services is concerned, this requires the adoption of a long-term and holistic view. It defines leadership in good design and is what we aim to honour with the Federal Ecodesign Award."
UBA's President Maria Krautzberger said: "The German Federal Ecodesign Award creates a public platform for bright minds to design products and services that are compelling in terms of both aesthetics and ecology. It is the first and only design award which puts the criteria of ecology and design on an equal footing."
The Federal Ecodesign Award will once again be awarded in four categories: the "Product" category goes to submissions that are available on the German market or exist as market-ready prototypes. Concepts, studies and pilot projects can enter in the "Concept" category, and the "Service" category invites submissions in the form of services and system solutions. Students and recent graduates are welcome to compete in the "Young Talent" category.
Before a jury of interdisciplinary experts evaluates the submissions, an expert committee comprised of members of UBA and the project advisory board makes a preselection from among the entries. The submissions are evaluated according to a transparent criteria matrix which was jointly developed by the BMUB and UBA in cooperation with the International Design Center Berlin (IDZ). The evaluation takes the entire life cycle of the projects submitted into consideration.
Award winners and nominees will be recognised at an awards ceremony which will be held at the Federal Environment Ministry on 28 November 2016 and in a touring exhibition at trade fairs and in museums. The exhibition of the winners and nominees from 2015 will open on 14 March 2016 in Ludwigsburg. Workshops and side events will be a regular feature of the exhibition.
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