Green Buddy Award 2024

On June 6, 2024, for the thirteenth time, young people and companies who have made environmental protection and sustainability a heartfelt matter were honored. The Green Buddy Award 2024 recognized exceptional projects and ideas in six categories that promote an eco-friendly and sustainable future. Since 2011, the jury has acknowledged 53 companies and initiatives for their commitment out of 409 applications.

Each category was awarded with an individual Buddy Bear, a prize of 2,000 euros, and a certificate. The Berlin-wide categories included retail, waste reduction, and smart city solutions, while the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district awarded categories for production, services, and crafts, the Young Green Buddy Award, and renewable energy.

District Mayor Jörn Oltmann and the Economic Development Agency honored the winners and recognized their commitment to the environment.

The following companies were awarded:

- In the "Renewable Energy" category, the Mayor's Award went to NEX Aero GmbH. The company optimized the cooling and adaptation of a fuel cell for a 1.2-ton cargo drone. This enables future urban logistics applications based on renewable energy and quieter electric drives compared to current transport aircraft.

- In the "Waste Reduction/Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle" category, the Berlin City Cleaning Department's award went to Delikatessen Requisiten Fundus Berlin OHG. They rent props for films, events, and advertising and have introduced custom-designed EURO boxes in four sizes as well as sustainable packaging covers to replace the previous moving boxes.

- In the "Smart Cities Solutions" category, the award from Berlin Partner and the Investitionsbank Berlin went to Zukunftsangelegenheiten GmbH. The startup founded the digital network "Grüne Stadtlogistik," which connects independent bike companies with food suppliers and enables comprehensive, emission-free deliveries by cargo bike or electric vehicle in cities.

- In the "Production, Services, Crafts" category, the district award went to Klara Grün UG. Klara Grün is revolutionizing the building cleaning trade with a sustainable approach through good working conditions, appreciation, and self-produced ecological cleaning products.

- In the "Retail" category, the award from the Berlin-Brandenburg Retail Association went to MOOT Upcycling GmbH. MOOT ("Made Out of Trash") produces clothing radically from so-called trash. Their redesign products are entirely made from discarded textiles that utilize intact areas.

- The Berlin Bees student cooperative won the Young Green Buddy Award. The Berlin Bees are a sustainable student company at the Emil Molt Academy. They care for four bee colonies on the school grounds in the Schöneberger Kiez and keep their bees in a manner appropriate to their nature.

- The apprentice project of Geyer Umformtechnik GmbH also won the Young Green Buddy Award. The apprentices of Geyer Umformtechnik planted a Tiny Forest at the beginning of the year using the Miyawaki method. This method uses close planting distances and a large variety of native plants, causing the trees to grow faster and enrich the environment.

Buddy Bear Berlin has supported the award from the beginning. Since 2023, Buddy Bear Berlin has been certified as a Sustainable Partner by visitBerlin.