CELEBRATING CHANGEMAKERS
Founded in 2008, the GREEN AWARDS have become the most significant prize in sustainability globally. Every year, we bring together experts and celebrities to pay tribute to the most innovative projects in green technology across a range of categories. From groundbreaking start-ups, institutions and established companies to outstanding personalities and innovative young minds – we honor and give more visibility to the modern-time heroes who dedicate their lives and careers to tackling climate change and making a real difference.
GREEN AWARDS 2025:
HONORING PIONEERING SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS
On May 20, 2025, we celebrated the 18th edition of the GREEN AWARDS as part of the GREENTECH FESTIVAL. For the first time, the ceremony was held as an exclusive dinner gala at the Palais of Messe Berlin.
The gala featured inspiring laudations by Dorothee Bär, Thorsten Albig, and Luca Vasta. Moderator Johanna Klum guided the evening, with Katja Riemann providing thought-provoking insights. The band The Jeremy Days concluded the event with a musical performance.
AWARDED PROJECTS AND COMPANIES
1KOMMA5°
Energy & InfrastructureThe Hamburg-based cleantech company 1KOMMA5° was recognized for its integrated energy solutions. Offering photovoltaics, energy storage, heat pump...
1KOMMA5°
Energy & Infrastructure
DeepDrive
Mobility & TransportDeepDrive received the award for developing innovative electric motors featuring dual-rotor technology. This increases the r...
DeepDrive
Mobility & Transport
Dunia Innovations
Industry & MaterialsDunia Innovations was honored for its use of artificial intelligence and robotics in material research. Through automated la...
Dunia Innovations
Industry & MaterialsON STAGE
Dorothee Bär
The Jeremy Days
Torsten Albig
© Mirjam Knickriem
Katja Riemann
Alicia Minkwitz
Johanna Klum
NOTABLE GUESTS & ATTENDING COMPANIES OVER THE LAST 18 YEARS
Over the years, the GREEN AWARDS have welcomed visionary leaders and changemakers from across culture, science, business and politics.
Representatives from companies such as Audi, Deutsche Bahn, E.ON, BCG, Porsche, BMW, Lufthansa and many more are regular guests.
Meet the Nominees of the GREEN AWARDS 2025
From AI-driven material discovery and zero-carbon industrial heat to circular mobility and carbon capture at sea – the GREEN AWARDS 2025 celebrate groundbreaking innovations across three key categories: Industry & Materials, Energy & Infrastructure, and Mobility & Transport.
Each nominee represents a bold vision for a more sustainable future, showcasing transformative solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. These pioneers are not only pushing technological boundaries but also accelerating systemic change across sectors and industries.
Explore the nominees of this year’s GREEN AWARDS – and discover the ideas, technologies, and trailblazers shaping tomorrow’s world.
ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
1Komma5°
1KOMMA5° is the CleanTech start-up for CO2-neutral energy, heat and mobility. Founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 2021, the company operates around 80 locations in 7 markets worldwide, serving as the one-stop shop for intelligent, integrated energy solutions such as photovoltaics,
lectricity storage, heat pumps and EV charging stations. 1KOMMA5° has already installed over 300,000 decentralized, controllable energy systems, creating CO2 savings of 14 million tons.
Energy Dome
Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery is the world’s ultimate grid-scale energy storage solution; it’s leading the way in modern energy with a proven and reliable system to decarbonise the world by unlocking solar and wind power 24/7. The CO2 Battery is a revolutionary technology that leverages proven, off-the-shelf components, sustainable materials and uses no rare earths or lithium; it’s also highly efficient, making it economically attractive at scale thanks to its extremely competitive CAPEX and OPEX.
Rondo Energy
Rondo Energy’s Heat Battery will power Covestro’s chemical facility in Northern Germany with continuous, zero-carbon steam, using intermittent renewable energy. This groundbreaking project showcases “drop-in decarbonization,” replacing fossil fuels without major infrastructure changes. It highlights a scalable path to climate-neutral chemical production, providing energy security in tumultuous times and supporting Covestro’s commitment to circularity and a greener future.
INDUSTRY & MATERIALS
Dunia Innovations
Dunia innovations pioneers AI-driven materials discovery to accelerate the clean energy transition. The self-driving labs integrate artificial intelligence and robotics to develop advanced materials for green hydrogen, CO conversion and energy storage – cutting discovery timelines from decades to months. By automating and optimizing the discovery process, we enable industries to scale sustainable solutions faster, bridging the gap between today’s challenges and a greener future.
Rumin8
Rumin8 is an ag climate tech company using pharmaceutical technology to create affordable feed and water supplements that reduce livestock methane emissions. The patented, nature-inspired process disrupts methane production while boosting performance. Rumin8 is developing formulations for diverse feeding systems, including grass-fed cattle, aiming to decarbonize 100 million cattle by 2030.
Sortera Technologies
Sortera’s state-of-the-art AI, image/data analytics, and advanced sensors recycles high-demand industrial scrap metal at industrial scale. This disruptive technology drives new paradigms and addresses demand for high-purity upcycled products via advanced sortation. Creating high-purity recycled metal feedstocks from existing US scrap enables domestic metals and alloys be readily available for high-quality domestic manufacturing, boosting sustainability and strengthening the circular economy.
MOBILITY & TRANSPORT
DeepDrive
DeepDrive is a high-tech company offering revolutionary motors for electric vehicles. The patented Dual Rotor technology increases vehicle range by +20% and significantly decreases their costs – saving automakers €1bn+ in large-scale production due to 50% less critical materials used and simpler manufacturing. DeepDrive currently works with 8/10 top automakers on development projects and is well on track for large-scale series nominations with major OEMs worldwide.
Seabound
Seabound is a leading climate tech startup based in London on a mission to decarbonize shipping. We build modular onboard carbon capture technology that can be installed directly onto existing or new ships to trap up to 95% of the CO2 in the exhaust gas from their engines. Our disruptive, patent-pending solution enables our customers to meet progressively tightening global emissions regulations and to offer their end customers attractive solutions for green and carbon neutral transportation.
The Future Is NEUTRAL
The Future Is NEUTRAL is the first 360° circular economy enterprise in the automotive sector, supporting the European auto industry’s shift to a competitive, resilient, and sustainable model. They offer closed-loop solutions: circular parts, recycled materials, and responsible end-of-life vehicle management. The activities span the entire value chain, already generating €1 billion in sales.
GREEN AWARDS JURY
Meet the renowned figures from business, science, media and sustainability who make up the GREEN AWARDS jury.
The jury meeting of the GREEN AWARDS 2025 took place in the BCG office in Berlin. The jury discussed and voted on the TOP3 nominees in the three competition categories. The result will be ceremoniously unveiled at the GREEN AWARDS gala on May 20, 2025.
All photos from the jury meeting can be found here.
AWARDS PROCESS
SELECTED JURY MEMBERS
AWARDS WINNERS 2023 & 2024
Dr MAMPHELA RAMPHELE
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mamphela Ramphele is a world-renowned figure with an outstanding career as an activist, medical doctor, academic, businesswoman, and political thinker. She has been Co-President of the Club of Rome since October 2018 until end of term in 2023. She is the Co-Founder & Global Brand Ambassador of ReimagineSA since 2016. Previously, she served as a Managing Director at the World Bank from 2000 to 2004 and as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, from 1996 to 2000. She obtained a medical degree from the University of Natal in 1968, where she co-founded the Black Consciousness Movement with Steve Biko and became involved in the South African Students Association (SASO). To learn more and follow Dr Mamphela Ramphele work, visit her website mamphela-ramphele.com
FATOU JENG
Category: Youngster
Fatou Jeng has 7 years’ experience in the climate and gender space and currently serves as one of the appointed youth climate advisors to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. She founded the youth-led NGO Clean Earth Gambia and co-led the Women and Gender working group of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Youth Constituency (YOUNGO). Clean Earth Gambia is one of the biggest youth-led environmental non-profit organisations in The Gambia. Over the past years, they have mobilised and worked with over 3000 children and young Gambians in the protection of our environment by conducting a series of capacity-building training programmes and planted over 35,000 with partners. You can support this incredible organisation through their Gofundme Website
ASTERRA
Category: Milestone
ASTERRA provides geospatial data-driven platform solutions for water utilities, government agencies, and the greater infrastructure industry in the areas of roads, rails, dams, and mining. ASTERRA services use Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar data from satellites, artificial intelligence, and proprietary technology to turn this data into large-scale decision support tools. Since 2017, ASTERRA solutions have been used to detect underground water leaks and monitor soil moisture in over 64 countries, saving over 368 billion gallons of potable water, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 235,520 metric tons, and saving 920,000 MWH of energy. Explore more about ASTERRA on their website asterra.io.
SUBLIME SYSTEMS
Category: Pioneer
Sublime Systems is on a mission to have a swift and massive impact on global CO2 emissions by decarbonizing cement. Unlike net zero solutions that rely on carbon capture, Sublime’s fully electrified, “true-zero” approach avoids the industry’s legacy fossil-fueled kilns and CO2-heavy limestone feedstock. The fully electrified electrochemical process produces Sublime Cement™ that meets performance-based standards and works with existing concrete ready-mix. Third party life cycle assessments have shown Sublime’s manufacturing can reduce the global warming potential of cement in the U.S. by over 90%. Learn more through their website sublime-systems.com
ARIZONA MUSE
Inspirational Achievement Award
The GREEN AWARDS will present US model and climate activist Arizona Muse with the Inspirational Achievement Award, which is given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to creating positive change in their industry.
Through her work with organisations such as Greenpeace, The Sustainable Angle and UN organizations including UNDP, UNEP and UNFAO, she has become a recognized voice inspiring others to adopt more sustainable practices and processes – moving the fashion sector forward for the better. She has also used her influence to raise funds for her charity organization, DIRT, whose mission is to find sustainable solutions for fashion to be no longer part of the problem, but part of the solution. Her unwavering dedication is an inspiration for an entire generation. You can donate directly to her charity on dirt.charity
BRILLIANT PLANET
Category: Innovation
Brilliant Planet is utilizing the potential of algae to permanently and quantifiably sequester carbon at the gigaton scale.Their method is not only ten times more affordable but also ten times faster than legacy algae producers, which allows for affordable carbon removal through algae. The company’s innovative process enables vast quantities of microalgae to grow in open-air pond-based systems in coastal desert areas without the use of freshwater. By harnessing a natural process, the innovative method contributes to the health of both the oceans and the air.
CONCULAR
Category: Start-Up
Aiming to change the construction sector, which is responsible for 60% of waste and 40% of CO2 emissions worldwide, Concular is developing a digital ecosystem for circular construction. Beginning in 2012 with Restado, a marketplace to buy and sell materials from deconstruction, Concular has grown to Europe’s largest marketplace for reused materials. As this mainly reached small companies, Concular was founded in 2020 to cater to the professional actors of the construction sector. By digitizing materials in both new and existing buildings and redirecting them into new construction instead of landfilling them, Concular has created closed material loops which help to reduce global CO2 emissions by up to 15% and waste by up to 30%.
PROF. DR. JOHAN ROCKSTRÖM
Category: Special Award
Rockström is a renowned scientist in the field of global sustainability. He played a key role in developing the Planetary Boundaries framework for human development in an era of rapid global change. With over 25 years of experience in applied water research, he is a leading expert on global water resources. Rockström’s research has influenced policy decisions and he provides scientific guidance to organizations such as the European Commission and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He also advises governments and business networks and holds important positions in various advisory boards and organizations focused on conservation and environmental issues. He is recognized as a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
JEREMIAH THORONKA
Category: Youngster
At the age of 17, Jeremiah Thoronka founded the start-up “Optim Energy” to tackle the challenges of energy poverty and environmental impact in his home country of Sierra Leone. The idea: To use piezoelectric materials and locally sourced energy harvesting technologies to provide energy to low-income households and schools. Piezoelectricity is gained from heat and vibrations. Optim Energy positioned its devices under the pavement, using one of the greatest natural assets of the areas where they were implemented: weather, traffic, and people. A sustainable and affordable system for low-income communities in a region where outside of the urban areas only a minority of the population has access to electricity.