BAUM | Environment and Sustainability Award
With the BAUM | Environment and Sustainability Award, BAUM deliberately honours committed individuals rather than organisations. The award was established in 1993 primarily to recognise “role models” and the work of “doers” within companies and institutions – those responsible for environmental and sustainability management and its operational implementation.
Time and again, environmental officers who have received the award have reported how this award has given them a boost and strengthened their position within their own company. CEOs who stand for sustainable development in their company are also honoured.
In addition, journalists and academics are honoured who have made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection and sustainability through their publications and research. The focus here is particularly on presenting sustainability issues to the public, on education and raising awareness.
From 2004, a BAUM International Special Award was also presented to well-known individuals who have made a special commitment to international nature conservation and environmental protection or in the social field. Since 2022, this previously separate award has been a category of the BAUM Environment and Sustainability Award.
Here you can see all previous award winners at a glance.
Nomination process & selection procedure
BAUM committee members have the right to nominate possible award winners. After a review by the BAUM office, a shortlist of the nominated candidates is drawn up for the jury. The jury is the final authority in the selection and evaluation process and decides autonomously on the award winners.
Application
You can request the application form by emailing . Please note that the award is presented to committed individuals (not organisations) and that the nominee must have a track record of successful work in the field of sustainability spanning several years. Above all, we require a compelling justification as to why this person is deserving of the award. We are particularly interested in their commitment to the environment and sustainability (depending on the category: within the workplace or in relation to society in general) and the specific measures that have been implemented. What are the key areas of focus? What is the motivation? How is personal commitment demonstrated?
Fees
The application is free of charge and is refinanced through fundraising.
Endowment
The prize is not endowed. The winners will be presented at a festive award ceremony. They receive a certificate co-signed by the Federal Minister for the Environment, an unique handcrafted Shona sculpture from Zimbabwe, and a logo for use in their own press and public relations work.
Deadlines
The application period for the 2026 awards has already closed. Applications for this year can no longer be accepted.
Our committee members are invited to submit nominations for 2027 by December 31, 2026.
Award ceremony 2024 for Felicitas Erfurt-Gordon
Categories of the BAUM | Environment and Sustainability Award
The BAUM | Environment and Sustainability Award is usually awarded in the following categories:
Transformation catalyst – large company (more than 500 employees)
This award recognises individuals who have been responsible for and have been actively implementing environmental and sustainability management within their organisations for at least five years. This may include, for example, senior management who champion sustainable development within their organisations. In particular, however, the award also recognises sustainability officers and “doers” who develop operational environmental protection and sustainability measures through their own initiative, drive them forward or establish them themselves, and who set exemplary standards through their work.
- The award winner must be a personal role model within the company. Ideally, their commitment should also extend beyond the company.
- The company’s environmental protection and sustainability measures must be the result of personal commitment and be driven forward significantly by the person themselves.
- He or she should have set standards in environmental and sustainability management through his or her ideas and determination.
- The award is given to those who have done exemplary work and have gained and implemented new, pioneering knowledge in the field of environmental management, sustainable development or climate protection.
Transformation catalyst – SMEs (less than 500 employees)
This award recognises individuals who have been responsible for and have been actively implementing environmental and sustainability management within their organisations for at least five years. This may include, for example, senior management who champion sustainable development within their organisations. In particular, however, the award also recognises sustainability officers and “doers” who develop operational environmental protection and sustainability measures through their own initiative, drive them forward or establish them themselves, and who set exemplary standards through their work.
- The award winner must be a personal role model within the company. Ideally, their commitment should also extend beyond the company.
- The company’s environmental protection and sustainability measures must be the result of personal commitment and be driven forward significantly by the person themselves.
- He or she should have set standards in environmental and sustainability management through his or her ideas and determination.
- The award is given to those who have done exemplary work and have gained and implemented new, pioneering knowledge in the field of environmental management, sustainable development or climate protection.
Academic
The prize is awarded to academics who have made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection and sustainability through their research.
- In the academics category, it would be desirable if the award winner is one of the most important academics of international standing in their own field of research or if their science communication is of particular social relevance.
- The academic should use thei knowledge and reputation to communicate science-based sustainable development goals to the public.
- The research should not only be of high academic quality, but should also be applicable to business or political practice.
Transformation catalyst – international, media, sport or lifetime achievement
Transformation catalyst international
The international special award honours prominent figures who have demonstrated a long-standing (at least 5 years) and continuous commitment to international nature conservation, environmental protection or social causes
Transformation catalyst media
The media special award is awarded to media representatives who have made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection and sustainability reporting over a long period of time (at least 5 years).
Transformation catalyst sport
The sport special award is awarded to individuals who are successful in their field, for whom sustainability is an elementary part of their work and who, through their awareness and sustainability activities, have inspired a large number of people for the topic and motivated them to take action.
Transformation catalys lifetime achievement
The special “Lifetime Achievement” award honours individuals who, throughout their professional or voluntary careers spanning many years (more than 15 years), have made a lasting contribution to environmental protection or sustainable development in business or society. They have initiated significant and pioneering ideas and/or projects or initiatives, sparked or stimulated important discussions, and have also had a decisive influence on organisations and institutions.