Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft (BNW)

The Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. (BNW), known as UnternehmensGrün until 2021, is a nationwide association of companies, self-employed individuals, foundations, and associations in Germany. Founded in 1992 in Stuttgart, the association is now based in Berlin.

The mission of the BNW is to provide inspiration, exchange, and cohesion as an attractive network of companies that drive the ecological and social transformation of the economy. The association is non-partisan, financially independent, and does not pursue economic interests; it is recognized as a non-profit organization. The belief that ecology, social issues, and economy belong together forms the cornerstone of the BNW's work[2][3].

• Networking and Lobbying: The BNW connects its members across industries and advocates for better framework conditions for sustainably operating companies through political lobbying. The association influences legislative processes and is heard during expert hearings in the Bundestag[1][2][3].
• Educational Projects: The project "Environmental Professionals of Tomorrow" has been promoting entrepreneurial thinking and action among students since 2008 under the guiding principle of sustainable business practices. So far, over 1,000 students and more than 160 companies have jointly realized around 225 projects[5].
• Political Voice: The BNW is a strong and respected political voice for environmental and economic policy. It advocates for fair market conditions and a level playing field and develops concepts for sustainable business practices[2][4].

• Ecologically Oriented Business Practices: The BNW promotes ecologically oriented business practices and the assumption of social responsibility by companies. This includes measures such as sustainable procurement, environmentally friendly mobility, and the use of renewable energies[1][2][3].
• Social Creativity and Competitiveness: The association supports the competitiveness of socially and ecologically sustainable companies through social creativity and innovation[2][3].
• Regional and Small and Medium-Sized Business Structure: The BNW promotes a regional, small and medium-sized business-oriented economic structure and sets impulses for an environmentally oriented funding, tax, and levy policy[2][3].
• International Cooperation: As a founding member of the European Association of Sustainable Business Associations, Ecopreneur.eu, the BNW also advocates for a more sustainable economic policy in Brussels[1][2].

The BNW currently has more than 700 members, including industry leaders such as Vaillant, Hipp, Weleda, Baufritz, and GLS Bank. The members of the association represent over 200,000 jobs and cover a wide range of industries, including insurance, law firms, and agricultural cooperatives[3][4].

The Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft e.V. is a central player in promoting a future-oriented and sustainable economy in Germany and Europe. Through its comprehensive activities and initiatives, the BNW significantly contributes to the transformation of the economy towards more ecology, social responsibility, and economic sustainability.

• 1 - https://www.lifeverde.de/gruene-unternehmen/gruene-ngos/bnw-bundesverband-nachhaltige-wirtschaft-ev
• 2 - https://www.bnw-bundesverband.de/ueber-uns
• 3 - https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesverband_Nachhaltige_Wirtschaft
• 4 - https://www.bnw-bundesverband.de
• 5 - https://www.unesco.de/bildung/bne-akteure/umweltprofis-von-morgen-bnw-bundsverband-nachhaltige-wirtschaft-ev