Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia receives German Sustainability Award Sport 2025
by Team Malizia 30 Nov 2024 06:38 PST
Cornelius Eich receiving the German Sustainability Award on behalf of Team Malizia © Christian Sigmund
As their skipper Boris Herrmann competes in the Vendée Globe, Team Malizia has been honoured with the German Sustainability Award Sport 2025 - one of Europe's most prestigious awards for sustainability projects and initiatives. The team received the award in the "Sport Events" category for their contributions to climate action and sports.
During his offshore races, Boris Herrmann and his Team Malizia aim to perform at their best on the water while raising awareness about climate change. For years, they have been dedicated to Ocean protection, contributing to scientific research by collecting data during races like the Vendée Globe, which often take them to remote Ocean regions. Additionally, they have been campaigning for Ocean education through their My Ocean Challenge programme and restoring the mangrove forest in the Philippines through the Malizia Mangrove Park. Their slogan A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! is painted on the sails of their Malizia - Seaexplorer race yacht and underscores the urgency of addressing the climate crisis.
In recognition of their engagement, Team Malizia were awarded the German Sustainability Award Sport 2025 in the category Sport Events during a festive ceremony yesterday evening at the MARITIM Hotel in Düsseldorf. The German Sustainability Award (Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis) is Europe's largest award for ecological and social sustainability. Established in 2008, it recognises efforts by businesses, municipalities, and individuals that demonstrate innovative and impactful approaches to environmental and social challenges. Organised annually with key partners, the 17th award ceremony took place during the German Sustainability Day, on 29 November 2024, in Düsseldorf, attracting thousands of guests and high-profile speakers from various sectors.
Boris Herrmann, who is currently racing towards Cape of Good Hope on Day 19 of the Vendée Globe, said in a video message sent from onboard: "Thank you very much for this wonderful award, and best regards from the South Atlantic. Our team's Head of Sustainability and Partnership Cornelius Eich is with you today and will accept the award on behalf of the entire Team Malizia and our partners. I am proud of what we have achieved but see this award as motivation to continue our Ocean and climate protection campaign."
The Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis Sport is aimed at all actors in the sports sector and honors exemplary achievements that advance sustainability within the industry. Through showcasing outstanding examples, the award seeks to encourage the further integration of sustainability principles into sports and embed these ideas within the broader public consciousness.
Cornelius Eich attended the ceremony, where he met representatives from various sustainability initiatives and received the award from fencing Olympic champion, former IOC member, and current chair of the Refugee Organization in the DOSB, Britta Heidemann. Following the event, he shared his thoughts, saying: "This award is a testament to the effort behind our A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! campaign. It inspires us to amplify our message and continue pushing for action. We hope this recognition, coupled with Boris's participation in the Vendée Globe, will ignite a sense of urgency and motivate people to join us in the fight against the climate crisis."
Team Malizia's A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its seven main partners: the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Schütz. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.