Internalising and reducing external costs is a cornerstone of a green economy. Sustainable business models require as much knowledge as possible of the external, social and environmentally relevant costs that accrue in manufacturing and sales/distribution, consumption and disposal. How can this be ensured?

The German Council for Sustainable Development was calling on interested parties to take part in its idea competition (PDF, 68 KB). Jochen Zeitz, Chief Sustainability Officer of PPR and Executive Chairman of PUMA SE, is a co-opted member of the Sustainability Council. He is the inspiration behind the project and will be accompanying it throughout.

Contestants were asked to submit ideas and innovations from the business and academic sectors. The call for ideas was directed at employees of businesses and social institutions as well as researchers at universities, colleges and non-university research institutions, especially those involved in research on sustainable development.