Call for entries to the Federal Ecodesign Award

The Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Environmental Agency have been presenting the Federal Ecodesign Award since 2012. The award is aimed at companies of all sizes and sectors. Entries are open to companies ranging from startups, local providers and global players to design offices, marketing agencies, as well as architectural and engineering firms. The submitted products have to be available on the German market or, in the case of services or concepts, have to be aimed at the German market. International companies complying with these requirements are invited to submit entries as well. The young talent category is open for entries from higher education students and graduates who obtained their qualification no longer than three years ago. The jury consists of top-class design and environmental experts. In 2016, the expert jury includes product designer Werner Aisslinger, Vice President of the Federal Environmental Agency Dr. Thomas Holzmann, Communication designer Professor Anna Berkenbusch, and Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry.

The categories

• Product: In the products category a prize is awarded to products available on the German market and for market-ready prototypes that will be introduced to the German market in the foreseeable future. 
• Service: Services and systems solutions that are available on the German market can be submitted under the services category. 
• Concept: The concepts category invites entries for pioneering concepts, studies and model projects.
• Young talents: The young talent category is open for entries from higher education students and graduates who obtained their qualification no longer than three years ago (deadline for entries will be the date of the start of the competition on 18 January 2016).

Assessment procedure and criteria

Selection and assessment of submitted entries are carried out in a multi-stage process. Degree of innovation, quality of implementation and environmental aspects are paramount during the assessment with impacts on everyday culture and consumer behaviour being considered as well. Special emphasis is placed on the entire product life cycle, ranging from pre-production processes to production, distribution, use and end of life. 

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Environment Agency together with the International Design Centre Berlin give awards to the best concepts. The aim of the Federal Ecodesign Award is to promote changes in development, production and consumer behaviour, thereby easing the burden on the