Call for Entries

Every year, the German Ecodesign Award looks for durable and recyclable products, processes and systems that make an important contribution to the sustainable transformation of our economy and society. Learn more about the competition process in our short film:

FAQ

The German Ecodesign Award is aimed at companies in all sectors and of all sizes, as well as individual designers. Start-ups and market leaders, local providers and global players are all addressed equally, alongside design studios, marketing agencies, architectural and engineering offices. It is essential that the submission is available on the European market, or is aimed at this market as a service or concept.

In the Young Talent category, the competition is open to students and graduates who have completed their studies no more than one year ago (the deadline is the start of the competition on 19 January 2026). The seat of the university does not have to be in Germany.

The competition is looking for durable and recyclable products, processes and systems that contribute to the transformation towards more sustainability. It is not limited to specific product groups, industries or design sectors. However, purely process engineering solutions, material developments without application relevance and medical products without recognisable environmental benefits are excluded. The following can be submitted:

Products which are available on the European market or exist as market-ready prototypes that are soon to be released (Category Product).
Services and system solutions (Category Service).
Forward-looking model projects and ideas that are still in the conceptual phase (Category Concept).
Works that were created during the course of study (Category Young Talent). Students and graduates are eligible to enter. Graduation must not be longer than one year ago (deadline is the start of call for entries on 19 January 2026).

All of the winning projects since the launch of the competition in 2012 serve as outstanding examples of the diversity of ecodesign and highlight the exciting ideas already developed.

The call for entries for the German Ecodesign Award 2026 starts on 19 January and ends on 2 April. The application and administration process takes place exclusively online.

Participants can submit numerous applications; for each of these, a separate application form must be completed and the corresponding fee paid. The questions on the application form must be answered truthfully and all required images and text materials must be provided in full.

Only applications that are submitted in a prompt and correct fashion will be permitted to take part in the competition process. The terms listed on this website are applicable.

In the Product, Service and Concept categories a fee will be charged for the participation in the competition process. This will help to ensure that the competition is implemented at the highest technical level and that it is in accordance throughout with exacting sustainable criteria. No fee is charged in the Young Talent category.

The amount due depends on the number of employees of the company. The classification according to the number of employees follows EU Recommendation 2003/361. This year it amounts to

• 300.00 euro (net) for companies with up to 10 employees,
• 600.00 euro (net) for companies with 11 to 50 employees,
• 900.00 euro (net) for companies with 51 to 250 employees,
• 1,800.00 euro (net) for companies with over 250 employees.

The application process must include a truthful declaration of the number of employees. Payment will be due per submission upon the completion of the application process and the receipt by the participant of an invoice. No additional fees will be incurred for winning entries or for inclusion in the touring exhibition.

In the German Ecodesign Award, environmental and design aspects are given equal standing. The criteria matrix provides an orientation on the quality features of sustainable design and serves as a basis for the evaluation. The examination and assessment of submissions is a multi-stage process.

Evaluation by the expert panel
All competition submissions that meet eligibility requirements will be passed on to an expert panel, which is composed of specialists from the German Environment Agency and members of the Advisory Board. The experts decide which entries qualify for the next stage of the competition. All admitted participants are invited to submit their entries for presentation at the jury session.

Jury session
The interdisciplinary jury selects the nominees and award winners. A number of prizes can be awarded in each category. The prizes are on equal footing. The presentation of the submissions will also be open to the public after the session.

»We won the German Ecodesign Award at a time when we were still building up and investing in our company. It was greatly motivating. An award like this is a huge feather in our cap, not least because it’s from an institution that we know is taking a deeper look at the overall process and not just handing out prizes to anybody. They have to be genuinely excited about the product. This award means that you have passed the litmus test.«
Andreas Spieß, Solarkiosk, Winner 2013 in the category service

Why it's worth taking part

The German Ecodesign Award is a state-supported award and is not commercially oriented. Apart from the participation fee, which goes entirely to the implementation of the competition, there are no other fees.

As the highest state award for ecological design, the prize stands for credibility and quality. The evaluation process is based on well-founded expertise and recognized criteria. Experts from the various departments of the German Environment Agency evaluate the ecological quality of the submissions and, together with the advisory board, decide on admission to the jury session. An interdisciplinary jury of renowned designers and environmental experts determines the nominees and the award winners.

After the jury meeting and award ceremony, BMUKN, UBA and IDZ publish a joint press release presenting the nominated and award-winning projects. Magazines from the fields of design, business and ecology as well as the regional and national daily press are reached via the respective press distribution lists. Renowned media partners from design and business support the German Ecodesign Award and report on the award-winning work.