Ideas for tomorrow
There was an extra surprise at the digital world premiere of the Audi RS e-tron GT and Audi e-tron GT quattro in February 2021: the presentation of the GREENTECH FESTIVAL’s special GREEN FUTURE Award. This special prize recognises projects and individuals promiting environmentally sustainable urbanisation, while at the same time making a significant contribution to enhancing quality of life and urban infrastructure.
The GREEN FUTURE Award went to Israeli startup Zencity for its eponymous intuitive tool for local governments. Zencity is an AI-based tool that uses an algorithm to collect and analyse social media posts and local news from cities. Municipal authorities can use this data to better understand—and, where necessary, respond to—the needs of their residents. At the same time, Zencity enables residents to gain the attention of political decision makers in an automated way. This method conserves resources, replacing face-to-face surveys, committee meetings and citizen hotlines. Zencity is already being used in 300 cities, including Chicago, Ottawa and Tel Aviv.
Nico Rosberg, co-founder of the GREENTECH FESTIVAL, says: “Time is a critical factor when it comes to climate change — and we need to act now. Startups like Zencity provide us with the necessary tools. ”Audi shares this philosophy. According to Henrik Wenders, Head of Brand AUDI AG: “Audi stands for Vorsprung. Our aim is to harness technology in contributing to a sustainable future and shaping urban mobility in a way that puts people front and center.”
Audi e-tron GT quattro: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.6–19.6CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Audi RS e-tron GT: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.1–18.4CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Stated specifications apply only in Germany and are not applicable in other regions.
Audi e-tron GT quattro: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.6–19.6CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Audi RS e-tron GT: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.1–18.4CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Stated specifications apply only in Germany and are not applicable in other regions.
Audi e-tron GT quattro: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.6–19.6CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Audi RS e-tron GT: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.1–18.4CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Stated specifications apply only in Germany and are not applicable in other regions.
Audi e-tron GT quattro: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.6–19.6CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Audi RS e-tron GT: Power consumption (combined) in kWh/100 km: 21.1–18.4CO₂ emissions (combined) in g/km: 0CO₂ emission class: A
Stated specifications apply only in Germany and are not applicable in other regions.
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Time is a critical factor when it comes to climate change — and we need to act now.”
2021’s GREENTECH FESTIVAL was held in Berlin from June 16 to 18. Audi is not only one of the founding partners of the festival co-founded by Nico Rosberg but also sponsors the GREEN AWARDS. These awards recognise disruptive ideas and innovations to fight climate change. An independent jury selected three nominees in each of the four competition categories — Youngster, Innovation, Startup, Impact. In the next stage, a final winner will be chosen for each category. The selection and evaluation process is overseen by TÜV Nord. The winners of the GREEN AWARDS were announced on the evening of June 18.
Categories and nominees at a glance:
Youngster
Young thought leaders (aged 16 to 25) making a lasting contribution to sustainability.
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Melati Wijsen (20), activist, founded the Bye Bye Plastic Bags initiative committed to banning single-use plastic on the island of Bali when she was just 12. Her latest project, YOUTHOPIA, is a global platform, which aims to train a generation of change makers, equipping them with the tools they need to bring about positive change.
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Moritz Hamberger (19), youth scientist, is researching alternative fuel production. He hopes that by rewriting the genetic code of algae, it will be possible to produce energy-rich compounds such as biofuels.
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Reyhan Jamalova (18), founder of Rainergy, developed a device that generates energy from rainwater when she was just 14 years old. Her device collects rainwater and drives a wheel that generates electricity. This relieves pressure on the local power grid and reduces CO2 emissions.
Innovation
Projects demonstrating the most cutting-edge innovation in the green technology field.
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RePack, a reusable packaging service for webstores, replaces single-use packaging for online orders, which is otherwise disposed of by the ton. Customers can return their order packaging from anywhere in the world free of charge, simply by posting it in a mailbox in letter size. The returned packaging is cleaned and shipped back to the webstores participating in the project.
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Green Fibre Bottle aims to become the world’s first bio-based beer bottle made from natural materials. Produced primarily using natural wood fibers, which come from certified sustainable sources, the bottle is fully recyclable.
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Liquid NanoClay is the name of a process that transforms natural clay into a liquid that can reverse desertification, rehabilitate degraded soils and reduce water consumption for green ecosystems.
Startup
Young companies making an important contribution to environmental protection and resource conservation.
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Primitives Biodesign develops biodegradable plastics—for example, for food packaging—as well as applications and tools to reduce plastic pollution.
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neustark removes CO2 from the atmosphere and permanently stores it in recycled concrete. This not only lowers the CO2 level in our atmosphere, but also reduces new emissions during fresh concrete production.
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Kalea, a smart kitchen appliance, turns organic waste into nutrient-rich compost for plants in just 48 hours, making it a sustainable solution for kitchen waste disposal in urban households.
Impact
Established companies and organisations positively impacting people’s awareness of sustainability.
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In 1965, Netafim was the first company to introduce drip irrigation. This process releases small doses of water directly to the plant root zone. Drip irrigation technology reduces water consumption by up to 70%, securing the livelihood of farmers and smallholders worldwide in the face of climate change.
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Slow Food is a global movement promoting a socially and environmentally responsible food system that protects biocultural diversity and animal welfare. Since it was set up in 1989, Slow Food has grown into an organization involving millions of people in over 160 countries.
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As a family-run company, Werner & Mertz’s commitment to sustainability is an integral part of its corporate philosophy. It manufactures cleaning and care products and is well known for the Frosch brand. In pursuit of a circular economy for plastics, the company teamed up with a partner to develop the world’s first fully recyclable container made from a monomaterial.
Audi awards special prize
The Lifetime Achievement Award (Male) presented by Audi was also awarded at the GREEN AWARDS. That year, the award went to Hollywood legend Robert Redford and was presented by Henrik Wenders, Senior Vice President of the Audi Brand. Redford has long been a champion of environmental causes, including as an activist for the Sea Shepherd marine conservation organisation as well as producer of the “Ocean Warriors” docuseries.
To find out more about 2021’s festival and awards and to watch 2020’s recording, visit the GREENTECH FESTIVAL website.
