The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is awarding the 2025 German Environmental Prize to Dr. Birgitt Bendiek and Lars Baumgürtel for their circular business model Planet ZINQ. This means that one of Europe’s most highly endowed environmental prizes will go to Gelsenkirchen this year. The prize, which is awarded annually by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) and is endowed with a total of €500,000, has been recognizing achievements that contribute to protecting the environment or will lead to significant relief in the future for more than 30 years.

„Planet ZINQ shows that energy- and resource-intensive companies can successfully transition to a circular economy. The approach is based on established standards and enables transformation on several levels without overburdening the organization and its employees,“ says ZINQ CEO Lars Baumgürtel.

For the circular transformation of the company, all energy and material processes are specifically examined in eight areas of action in order to make them more efficient and effective. The goal is triple-zero climate neutrality—zero CO2 emissions, zero waste, and zero pollution. With Planet ZINQ, ZINQ has launched the “Race to Triple Zero” anchored in the EU Green Deal, focusing on products of circular quality. “With Planet ZINQ, we are consistently converting our production and products to a circular economy in order to become climate-neutral, but also to remain sustainable,” emphasizes Dr. Birgitt Bendiek, Managing Director of ZINQ Germany.

True climate neutrality with circular quality products

„A company’s ecological footprint is reflected in its products. An e-fleet and PV modules are nice, but they are of little use if the products are not resource-efficient, resource-secure, and material-healthy. Our economy can only achieve true climate neutrality if we manufacture triple-zero quality products. The product doesn’t lie,“ says Lars Baumgürtel. Planet ZINQ is therefore based on two central principles: circularity and materiality. Circularity encompasses circular product design (design the loop), extending the service life (slow the loop), and closing cycles (close the loop). Materiality means material-healthy surfaces without harmful substances or microplastics, as well as design principles that preserve or increase the value of the raw materials used. ZINQ’s piece galvanizing surfaces are Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certified and proven to be suitable for closed cycles.

Research and development in Gelsenkirchen

In order to develop innovative processes and sustainable products that are essential for achieving Triple Zero, ZINQ has established its own R&D center in Gelsenkirchen with partners such as Fraunhofer UMSICHT and the Wuppertal Institute. For 15 years, new technologies have been researched and developed here – such as microZINQ®, a surface with up to 80% less zinc consumption. These results are bundled via ZINQ technology and passed on as products or licenses so that other medium-sized companies can also benefit from the transformation.

Climate-neutral process heat with hydrogen

A key area of activity for Planet ZINQ is the decarbonization of process heat.

In order to replace carbon-rich natural gas with climate-friendly hydrogen in the long term, ZINQ has been working since 2016 on the technical preparations for converting its plant in Gelsenkirchen. At the same time, ZINQ is committed to making hydrogen acceptable in industrial process heat and ensuring that energy-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to purchase hydrogen at competitive prices in the future. In parallel, the Klimahafen Gelsenkirchen industrial cluster, which consists of 20 small and medium-sized enterprises and was founded by Lars Baumgürtel, is pushing ahead with the connection to the hydrogen core network.

Transparency and market incentives

In addition to developing innovations for greater sustainability, ZINQ is also working on models to promote the competitiveness of circular products. “Disruption is not about one technology or one product; disruption begins with a change in behavior – and that requires incentives. The circular transformation can only succeed if the switch to circular products is worthwhile for companies and if these products are ultimately marketable,” emphasizes Lars Baumgürtel. That is why ZINQ creates transparency regarding the ecological quality of its products: since 2022, environmental product declarations (EPDs) in accordance with DIN EN 15804 have certified the ecological quality of ZINQ surfaces. With ZINQ’s CO2 bank, credits for emissions saved are also passed on to customers.

Competitive advantage through transparency

Another milestone is the Digital Circular Product Passport (DCPP). Since 2023, ZINQ has been working with partners such as Schmitz Cargobull and ArcelorMittal to develop practical standards that make the entire life cycle of a product transparent and strengthen the competitiveness of circular solutions.

„Products with proven circular quality create a clear competitive advantage because they avoid external costs and secure resources for closed cycles. But we now also need clear regulatory policy with the aim of establishing circular lead markets in which the decision to use circular products is also economically worthwhile. Only in this way can sustainable material solutions be permanently anchored in the market. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) has already laid the foundations at EU level, and these must now be implemented in an ambitious and impact-optimized manner,“ said Baumgürtel.

Award ceremony in Chemnitz

The German Environmental Award will be presented by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Chemnitz on October 26, 2025. „For us, this is just the beginning and a special incentive. Of course, we will make the most of the German Environmental Award. We want to launch a campaign to further advance our efforts toward a circular economy in surface technology together with our customers, but also with politicians and scientists,“ says Lars Baumgürtel. The ZINQ management duo shares the award with Swiss climate researcher Prof. Dr. Sonia Seneviratne.