German Sustainability Award honors Variolytics and Hella

The winners of the German Sustainability Award for Products (DNP Produkte) have been announced, recognizing companies that successfully integrate sustainability with economic success. The award highlights innovative solutions that demonstrate measurable environmental impact and scalability.

Among the 33 winners, Stuttgart-based startup Variolytics GmbH won in the climate transformation category for its EmiCo lite system. This compact device continuously measures nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) in wastewater treatment plants. By providing real-time, plant-specific data via cloud-based software, the system has helped operators reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 70 to 99 percent in documented projects.

Additionally, Hella was recognized alongside partners like BMW for the Circular One Eco Headlamp. Developed through the Nalyses research project, this headlight is designed to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 53 percent over its entire lifecycle compared to reference products, focusing on repairability, the use of sustainable polymers, and recyclability.