MUNICH—Ahead of the 2025 show in Munich, Germany, opti organizers have announced two sustainability awards: the second edition of the opti Sustainability Award and the new opti Sustainability Youngster Award. Each award is earmarked with €3,700 in prize money. “With two opti Sustainability Awards, opti is picking up on important industry developments and is now also promoting the next generation and their creative, unconventional ideas as a source of inspiration,” said Cathleen Kabashi, opti’s exhibition director.

The brand new opti Sustainability Youngster Award is aimed at young people in the industry and their creative ideas surrounding sustainability, show organizers said. The award offers students and trainees a space to present their projects; anyone currently undergoing training in the industry or enrolled on a degree program in an ophthalmic optics discipline, such as students at universities and pupils at vocational or master schools and technical colleges, can enter.

Plausible, feasible concepts for sustainability projects and initiatives in the optical industry, such as climate-neutral behavior or diversity within the workforce and much more, may be submitted. To provide young applicants the opportunity to present their ideas in a creative and uncomplicated way, applications may be submitted in the form of video.

 
The second edition of the opti Sustainability Award is a distinction for national and international opticians who provide jury-convincing activities in terms of sustainability. It recognizes relevant initiatives by optical enterprises. Anyone who works in the industry can apply. Projects and initiatives relating to social, economic and ecological issues can be submitted, based on the three pillars of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in its Agenda 2030.

Applications for both awards will be accepted until November 20, 2024. After submissions close, the jury, made up of active members of IG Nachhaltigkeit (Sustainability Association) who work in a wide variety of areas throughout the industry, will create a shortlist for both competitions. On the first day of opti, January 31, 2025, selected participants from both competitions will pitch their solutions live at the opti Sustainability Hub. The award ceremony will take place immediately after the pitches.

Applications and further information for both awards is available online here.