German Sustainability Award: Khulula wins with green optis - Sebastian Vettel also honoured
Max Gasser
· 27.11.2023
Never before has a boat or even a piece of water sports equipment made it to the final of the German Sustainability Award, let alone won it. Since last Friday, things have been different, as the German start-up Khulula has managed to do just that with its Eco-Optimist. "This is groundbreaking for sailing, this is groundbreaking for the industry," commented co-founder and successful actor Simon Licht on the triumph.
The green Opti made of flax fibre made it to the final round of the largest recognised competition of its kind in Europe, where it also beat sustainability industry giant Vaude in the sporting goods, sports equipment and clothing category. "The who's who of the international sports industry was at the start," says Licht. In addition, "Vytal" with its initiative to reduce disposable packaging and waste at sporting events and the "Sports Club of the Future" project also made it to the final of this category.
However, Licht emphasises that it was not a matter of course that her project was chosen, as reaching the final in the first place was a great success: "The requirements to reach the final are huge, and the fact that we managed to do so was incredible. Then, of course, you're gripped by sporting ambition and you want to win!" He explains why the jury actually decided in favour of the Eco-Optimist: "We had the most transparent and comprehensive package. In addition to the sustainable sports equipment, we also made a social contribution with the team race series, really lived sustainability and passed it on to the next generation."
Eco Team Race Germany on the green Optimists was a complete success
The dinghy, which is similar in appearance, dimensions and weight to the classic Optimist, is made from flax, bio-resins and recycled composites. According to the manufacturers, the CO₂ footprint is 70 per cent smaller than that of the standard Optimis produced in China. Production in Germany at Tobias Schadewaldt's Jade Yachting and accessories from Europe save on overseas shipping. What's more, the environmentally friendly Opti is made from 90 per cent renewable raw materials and recycled materials.
The Eco Team Race Germany started last year with 15 of these boats. For the new regatta series, Khulula provided the children with optimisers built using sustainable production methods. Equipped with fully recycled eXRP Ekko cloth from Elvstrøm, ropes made from recycled PET bottles from Robline and buoyancy aids made from old life jackets from Secumar, the series has attracted more and more attention over the season, explains Licht. "The project is on everyone's lips, the demand is huge," says the 57-year-old.
Sustainable optis soon on every regatta course?
And on several levels at once. Not only is the team race series to be expanded for the next generation, the list of interested clubs is long, but the expertise of the founders and the team is also in demand. Similar building materials are to be increasingly used in boatbuilding and other sectors, such as the camping industry. Simon Licht, who started the project together with school friend and companion Holger Ambroselli almost two years ago, is open to the idea and is looking forward to the collaboration. After all, the Opti was just the "lighthouse to start with". It will go into series production in 2024 and, according to Simon Licht, the process of introducing sustainable materials should of course also be transferred to other classes or sectors.
At the moment, however, there is still a bit of a problem in the optimist class of all things. This is because the materials are still not authorised for use in official regattas. According to the organisers, approval for such events was not initially the primary goal. Rather, they wanted to introduce young sailors to sailing from the ground up with the sustainability aspect in mind and also promote the project as an exemplary model of feasibility. This goal was undoubtedly achieved, which is why the authorisation for the official racing circuit is now to be pushed more strongly.
16th German Sustainability Award: Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel receives honourable mention
Licht confirmed this: "Of course, we will also officially submit the application regarding the materials to the relevant authorities." The Eco-Optimist is also an Opti like any other in terms of its dimensions, but the class rules prohibit the use of flax. It is unclear whether the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) will act as co-operatively as the project's numerous partners. Perhaps we will soon be seeing plenty of green optis on the regatta courses and conventional materials will be limited instead. This would be good for the green turnaround in the sailing scene. After all, the Opti is the entry-level boat par excellence and is an important component on the way to more sustainability in sailing, not only because of the high number of units, but above all because of the early characterisation of the next generation.
As part of the German Sustainability Award, special and honorary prizes are also awarded annually to celebrities who are committed to sustainability. This year, four-time Formula 1 world champion and co-racing team owner of the German SailGP team Sebastian Vettel was also honoured. The 36-year-old from Heppenheim criticised his own sport during his active career and has been a strong advocate for the environment for several years. When he joined the SailGP racing series, Vettel also cited the "very sustainable approach" as one of the reasons for his commitment. Since then, he has been in close contact with the team led by helmsman Erik Heil and not only acts as a leader on paper, but also contributes his knowledge from highly professional motor racing.
About the German Sustainability Award:
Every year, the German Sustainability Award honours pioneering projects, campaigns and contributions to the transformation towards a sustainable future. Organised in five sub-categories and with 2,000 guests at the final events, it is the most comprehensive award of its kind in Europe. The 16th German Sustainability Award ceremony took place on 24 November in Düsseldorf. Numerous celebrities from the world of sport, music and politics were also in attendance. Among others, DFB Vice President Celia Šašić and Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser opened the event. Ski racer Christian Neureuther, boxing legend Regina Halmich, two-time Olympic swimming champion Britta Steffen, big wave surfer Sebastian Steudtner and former sabre fencer Max Hartung were also in attendance.
For the first time, the German Sustainability Award was presented in the new category of sport in the following areas:
- Sports associations and clubs (winner: Sportvereinigung Feuerbach 1883 e. V.)
- Sports centres and facilities of all providers (winner: Landessportbund Hessen)
- Events, match days and sports festivals (winner: Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023)
- Sporting goods, sports equipment and clothing (Winner: Khulula UG)
- Sports media and publications (Winner: mycrocast GmbH)
- "Sustainability heroes of everyday life" (winner: Badischer Behinderten- und Rehabilitationssportverband e. V. (BBS))
