10.00

WELCOME 

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?

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.

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.

A current overview of the state of the technology.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the business world – but where do we really stand today? This workshop offers a concise overview of the current state of the technology, highlighting which AI applications are trending, which are already outdated, and which tools can help companies stay competitive. Practical, easy to understand, and focused on opportunities, challenges, and concrete recommendations for action. Ideal for anyone seeking clarity in the dynamic AI landscape.

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.

Moderator: Caroline Zöller Founder, Managing Director of the Communications Agency Forteam
Great content that gets read and spotting topics and trends are her passions. Responsible for the editorial work of various corporate blogs, Caroline Zöller researches and writes about specialist topics in the fields of visual communication, textiles, packaging, and digital signage. She is also the founder and managing director of the Cologne-based communications agency Forteam. As a specialist in solution-oriented communication consulting, she advocates for concepts that focus on customer needs and content. She has expertise in retail communication and advises companies on digital transformation. Since 2005, she has been working with visual communication as a means of creating emotional resonance.

How does TikTok work? And why SnapChat now? What space do I need to create as an employer to reach young talent? How to win the hunt for young talent.
We have (hopefully) all realised this by now: If you want to attract young talent, you have to be visible where they are: on TikTok and Snapchat.
However, most of them are still struggling with implementation. In our workshop, you will learn how to avoid falling into the cringe-inducing trend trap and create content that really resonates AND generates good applications for your training programmes. We will also provide you with the most important tools and tips for building and supporting your own creator team. Because Gen Z only likes content if it is authentic.

Celina Goette & Bersa Shazimani JuniorJob UG, Köln Junior Job

Celina Goette and Bersa Shazimani founded their startup “Junior Job,” a job portal for all students, and won the teech student pitch competition in 2021 with it.

From the Hand to the Heart and to the Employer Brand. How to Retain Your Employees with Tactile Media.
In our digital world, analog experiences stand out through their emotional power. Tactile media – from thoughtfully designed welcome packages to high-quality giveaways – create closeness, appreciation, and a genuine connection. This workshop demonstrates how companies can use tangible experiences not only to capture attention but to win hearts and build long-term loyalty. Because what we feel, stays with us. Those who want to strengthen their employer brand should not think digitally alone, but also create experiences that can be felt. From the hand straight to the heart – that’s how real identification is formed.

13.15- 4.15

BREAK

14.15 - 14.45

WELCOME BACK AND JOINT FOLLOW-UP OF THE BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

14.45-16.20

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.

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