An Inspiring Afternoon and Evening at the Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024 awarded in 2025

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, Vienna once again became the center of green chemistry and sustainable innovation as it hosted the Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024. This highly anticipated event, organized by UNIDO, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action (BMK), and partners, honored the most outstanding Chemical Leasing initiatives worldwide.

The Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024 was officially opened by Dr. Reinhard Joas, a renowned expert in sustainable chemistry and performance-based business models. His opening remarks set the stage for an inspiring evening, highlighting the growing importance of Chemical Leasing in addressing global challenges such as resource efficiency, circular economy, and CO₂ reduction.

Dr. Joas emphasized how Chemical Leasing has evolved from a niche concept into a recognized global business model, thanks to the dedication of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers.

With an impressive number of applications from across the globe, the competition highlighted pioneering solutions that reduce chemical consumption, improve efficiency, and promote circular economy approaches. The award ceremony brought together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and sustainability advocates for an afternoon and evening of inspiring discussions, networking, and recognition of best practices.

Celebrating Excellence in Chemical Leasing

The winners of the Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024 represent the future of sustainable chemistry, demonstrating that performance-based models are transforming industries worldwide.

Spotlight on the Chemical Leasing Award 2024 Winners

The Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024 showcased a diverse and innovative range of winning projects that are redefining sustainable chemistry. The winners demonstrated groundbreaking advancements in chemical efficiency, sustainability, and innovative business models. Here are some of the standout achievements across different categories:

Case Studies – Proven Success in Chemical Leasing

- Gold: Ravago (Serbia) – A global leader in raw materials and additives, Ravago has been implementing Chemical Leasing for over a decade, continuously expanding it to new applications. Their approach delivers measurable environmental benefits, improved human health standards, and a strong economic impact.

- Silver: Hariss International (Uganda) – One of Uganda’s largest beverage producers, integrating Chemical Leasing in dry conveyor lubrication and cleaning processes. Their commitment to reducing chemical use and improving efficiency has led to increased competitiveness both locally and internationally.

Innovation – Transforming Industries with New Approaches

- Gold: Dünger LLC (Ukraine) – Pioneering performance-based fertilizer models, Dünger has developed organomineral fertilizers that enhance soil health, crop yield, and reduce synthetic nitrogen use. Their Chemical Leasing approach charges farmers based on crop yield rather than the volume of fertilizer used, a game-changer for sustainable agriculture.

- Silver: Fumajet (Brazil) – Specializing in georeferenced pest control, Fumajet uses AI-driven monitoring and eco-friendly methods to minimize chemical application while ensuring effective pest control. Their approach prioritizes human health and environmental protection.

Research – Advancing Chemical Leasing through Science

- Gold: Julian Mesnager (France) – His groundbreaking research integrates Chemical Leasing with CO₂ reduction, creating a model where chemical companies are rewarded not just for performance but also for their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This could revolutionize carbon-conscious chemical leasing.

- Silver: Brimatech Services (Austria) – Conducting extensive market research, Brimatech has explored the potential of Chemical Leasing beyond traditional sectors, integrating circular economy principles and digital solutions into performance-based business models.

Women-Led Initiatives – Driving Sustainable Change

- Gold: Bioart (Brazil) – A pioneer in clean beauty, Bioart integrates Green Chemistry and sustainable sourcing into its cosmetic formulations, reducing waste and chemical dependency while fostering collaborative supply chains.

- Silver: MAS Fabrics (Sri Lanka) – A leader in the textile industry, MAS Fabrics has implemented proactive chemical management and performance-based purchasing models to reduce waste and enhance supply chain transparency.

New Business Models for Green & Sustainable Chemistry

- Gold: humusCO2mp (Germany) – A transformative approach to carbon farming, humusCO2mp rewards farmers for increasing soil humus and sequestering CO₂, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Their Chemical Leasing model creates a direct link between sustainable farming and carbon markets, attracting ESG-focused investors.

- Silver: Hirdaramani (Vietnam) – Innovating the apparel industry, Hirdaramani integrates Soapberry-based detergents as a natural, biodegradable alternative to traditional textile cleaning chemicals, drastically reducing chemical pollution in wastewater.

These winners highlight the incredible potential of Chemical Leasing to revolutionize industries, from agriculture to textiles, water treatment, and industrial production. They set new standards for sustainability, proving that Chemical Leasing is a driving force in the global green transition.

Keynote Speech by Dr. Thomas Jakl – A Visionary Perspective

The event began with a powerful keynote speech by Dr. Thomas Jakl, widely regarded as the "Chemical Leasing Pioneer". He emphasized how performance-based models like Chemical Leasing are revolutionizing industries by focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and economic benefits.

Dr. Jakl highlighted the growing global adoption of Chemical Leasing and called for stronger collaboration between industries, governments, and research institutions to scale up these sustainable business models. His message was clear: The future of chemical management is not about selling volume but about delivering value.

Sustainability Meets Innovation – Practical Case Studies

One of the highlights of the event was the session on groundbreaking sustainability innovations, showcasing real-world applications of Chemical Leasing principles:

Eco-friendly powder coatings with recycled PET bottles – Presented by Dr. Richard Jenkins (Arkema), showcasing how recycled materials can enhance industrial coatings while reducing waste.

Chemical Waste as a Resource – Benjamin Deister (Brenntag) explained how Chemical Leasing can transform waste into valuable secondary raw materials.

Industry 4.0 & AI-driven Sustainability – Steffen Saecker demonstrated how AI and digital tools are being leveraged to measure and improve sustainability performance.

Engaging Panel Discussion on Future Trends

The final highlight of the evening was the high-level panel discussion, where thought leaders explored the future of Green and Sustainable Chemistry.

The expert panel featured:

Dr. Thomas Jakl (BMK, Austria) – Sharing insights on policy frameworks supporting Chemical Leasing adoption.

Rodica Ivan (UNIDO) – Highlighting the international impact of Chemical Leasing and the role of UNIDO in advancing sustainable business models.

Paul Anastas (Yale University) – Discussing green chemistry innovations and how Chemical Leasing aligns with circular economy principles.

Richard Jenkins (Arkema) – Offering an industry perspective on practical implementation and scalability.

Benjamin Deister (Brenntag) – Addressing chemical waste reduction and new resource-efficient models.

Soraia Zonta (Bioart, Brazil) – Sharing insights on female leadership in sustainable chemistry.

Antje Schwemberger (humusCO2mp, Germany) – Presenting agriculture-based Chemical Leasing applications and the potential of carbon sequestration through regenerative farming.

The discussion reinforced how Chemical Leasing is shaping the future of sustainable chemistry by reducing waste, optimizing resource use, and creating economic incentives.

A Celebration of Sustainability & Collaboration

The event concluded with a networking dinner, where attendees celebrated the achievements of the winners, exchanged ideas, and discussed future collaborations.

Chemical Leasing: A Model for the Future

The Global Chemical Leasing Award 2024 proved once again that Chemical Leasing is more than just a business model—it’s a global movement towards responsible, sustainable, and performance-based chemical management.

A huge congratulations to all the winners, nominees, and participants Your commitment to sustainability is shaping the future of chemistry.

Check out all the winners and their projects here:

www.global-chemicalleasing-award.org/awardwinner

Let’s continue to push the boundaries of sustainability, innovation, and Chemical Leasing adoption worldwide!

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