10.00

WELCOME & KEYNOTE

How Legal Requirements as Drivers of Innovation Help Shape the Strategy of a Global Brand.
The climate crisis, resource scarcity, and stricter environmental regulations are presenting the textile industry with profound challenges. With the EU Green Deal, legislation is redrawing the boundaries – challenging companies to rethink responsibility. Brax does not view the regulations as mere obligations, but uses them as drivers of innovation, quality, and long-term viability. This presentation offers insights into how sustainability becomes an integral part of brand strategy – from product development and production processes to the strengthening of transparent supply chains. At the heart of the discussion lies the question: How can regulatory pressure spark creative transformation – and become an opportunity for entrepreneurial excellence?

Why the hotel brand The Cloud One has made the 17 UN goals a top priority
Bringing sustainability to life is at the heart of The Cloud One's concept. As part of the Motel One Group, the hotel brand participates in the sustainability programme "One Planet. One Future". Find out how stays are designed with real added value for guests, employees and the environment, how sustainability has become the brand essence of the hotels and how this makes a decisive contribution to responsible travel.

Matz Alnor Hotel Manager THE CLOUD ONE Düsseldorf-Kö-Bogen

How Promotional Goods Create a Lasting Impact – for Recipients and in the Brand Story
Sustainability is no longer just a trend – it is a value proposition. Especially in the field of tactile advertising, sustainably produced promotional products create a double impact: they foster genuine emotional closeness with the recipient while credibly conveying a brand’s attitude and values to the outside world. You will learn how carefully selected promotional products not only reinforce brand messages but also become part of authentic storytelling. Inspiring examples show that those who give with purpose are remembered – and leave a lasting positive brand impression.

Lucas Zehndorfer gugler* DruckSinn Druckerei für nachhaltig Schönes

What needs to be considered now, and what will be important in the future
The presentation offers a concise insight into one of the most ambitious projects for a sustainable future. The Green New Deal stands for more than just climate protection – it combines ecological transformation with social justice and economic innovation. The goal is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote green technologies, and create future-proof jobs in the process.This talk highlights which political and economic levers are already in motion and what that means concretely for companies and organizations. You will learn how to strategically leverage the Green New Deal, where risks may arise, and which opportunities can be seized to remain resilient and competitive in the long term.

Nils Bader Director Green Future Club & Initiator Green Product Award

Nils Bader is Director of the international Green Product Award & Green Concept Awards as well as the Green Future Club. In this role, he is responsible for partnerships, networking events, exhibitions, and the development of sustainable showcases. As a consultant for sustainable transformation, he has been supporting companies, government institutions, and educational organizations for over 25 years in the areas of innovation, strategy, and the design of sustainable business models.

How Do Promotional Goods Truly Become Sustainable?
The workshop provides a solid insight into the world of sustainable materials and demonstrates how future-proof promotional goods can emerge through smart material choices and innovative design. It focuses on the definitions of sustainability and the circular economy, current challenges, and four concrete examples of sustainable material use. Four selected case studies illustrate how material decisions can significantly contribute to the impact and credibility of promotional goods.

13.15- 14.15

BREAK

Guest speaker: Melissa Brosig, OroVerde – The Tropenwaldstiftung with a presentation on the topic of ‘Employee retention through commitment to a good cause.’ How supporting charitable projects, promoting environmental initiatives or social engagement can strengthen employee loyalty to their employer.

Melissa Borsig Fundraising Officer OroVerde - Die Tropenwaldstiftung

Melissa Brosig works as a Fundraising & Corporate Cooperation Officer at the Tropical Forest Foundation OroVerde in Bonn. In this role, she advises companies on CSR cooperation, employee engagement, sponsorship and fundraising campaigns. Her aim is to support corporate partners in their sustainability efforts and at the same time maximise their impact on the protection of tropical rainforests, species conservation and climate protection.

14.25-16.00

THEMATIC FOCUS 'SUSTAINABILITY AS A BRAND'

How Do I Communicate Corporate Sustainability?
Sustainability is a must – but how can a company talk about it authentically without coming across as inauthentic? Learn how businesses can effectively communicate their sustainable activities. Hear the latest market figures and discover how to derive strategies that highlight what truly matters today: transparency, values, and relevance. Caught between the risk of greenwashing and the pursuit of real impact, this talk demonstrates how communication can succeed in building trust and strengthening brand identity. It’s ideal for anyone who not only wants to practice sustainability but also tell the story convincingly.

Julia Frings Senior Project Manager IFH KÖLN

Julia Frings is a Senior Project Manager at IFH KÖLN. Since 2018, she has focused on current trend topics in the retail sector, with particular emphasis on platform economy, sustainability, and B2B. Her work centers on understanding customers and their needs, and the resulting business requirements. In addition, she is involved in custom market research projects. After earning her bachelor's degree in Journalism and Public Relations, she completed a master’s in Market and Media Research. Alongside her studies, she gained experience in various market research roles, with a strong focus on customer-centered questions and solution-oriented approaches.

How Discarded Spirits inspires change and what companies can learn from it.
70 per cent of food and drink waste is avoidable. Discarded Spirits has therefore set itself the goal of avoiding and rethinking waste. The spirits brand not only wants to produce first-class products, but also create a zero-waste movement and inspire as many people as possible to make real changes. Find out what the brand has learnt on its journey.

Sam Trevethyen Global Brand Ambassador Discarded Spirits

Current Requirements, Benefits, and Success Factors in Reporting
Sustainability is far more than a communicative nice-to-have – it is becoming a strategic obligation and an operational challenge. With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and other regulatory requirements, expectations around transparency, data quality, and reliability in sustainability reporting are rising sharply. Yet beyond mere compliance, strategically embedded sustainability offers genuine value for companies, brands, and reputations. This presentation explores how businesses can meaningfully integrate sustainability into their overall strategy, which reporting standards currently matter, and what is essential now for credible and impactful reporting – balancing purpose with regulatory pressure.

Sven Fischer Managing Director and Partner LUWE GmbH

Sven Fischer is a sustainability consultant and, together with Stephan Ley, Managing Director and Partner of LUWE GmbH / Society for Regenerative Business. He and his team advise medium-sized companies and institutions on sustainability strategy development, circular economy, sustainable product development, as well as CSRD and VSME reporting. In addition, he conducts research on systemic societal issues and sustainable AI, is politically engaged, and actively participates in various associations and juries, including the German Sustainability Award.

What a Sustainability Award Can Truly Achieve
A sustainability award is more than just a prize – it creates well-deserved visibility, gives commitment a stage, and can become a true gamechanger for companies. It demonstrates how projects can generate measurable impact for businesses and how such recognition can open doors in today’s world. 

Petra Schmatz Green Lifestyle Magazine
Sven Fischer LUWE GmbH
Petra Lassahn Director PSI
Nils Bader Initiator Green Product Award