Sustainable Switzerland Forum honors "Sustainable Shapers"
On September 2, 2025, over 500 decision-makers from business, science and politics gathered in the new Festhalle at Bernexpo for the fourth edition of the Sustainable Switzerland Forum. The focus was on the circular economy, supply chains, AI and energy management.
At the Sustainable Switzerland Forum, the "Sustainable Shapers" were honored for the first time - personalities who initiate concrete changes with their entrepreneurial, scientific or social work and promote sustainable development in and from Switzerland.
The jury selected 15 winners in three categories from over 240 nominations:
Leadership & Transformation:
- Albin Kälin, founder and CEO of epeaswitzerland gmbh
- Christian Zeyer, Co-CEO swisscleantech
- Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, founder and CEO of INSECT-RESPECT
- Julia Carpenter, co-founder and CEO of apheros
- Oliver Brunschwiler, member of the Board of Directors and investor
Knowledge & Opinion:
- Mathis Wackernagel, co-founder of the Global Footprint Network
- Nathalie Agosti, Founder and Managing Director of Outlive Advisory
- Simone Nägeli, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director of Acker Schweiz
- Ursula Biemann, artist
- Walter Stahel, founder of the Product Life Institute
Vision & Innovation:
- Aurélien Demaurex, CFO and co-founder of Ecorobotix
- Nicolas Rochat, founder and CEO of Mover Plastic Free Sportswear
- Philipp Furler, co-founder and CEO of Synhelion
- Pirmin Jung, founder and CEO of PIRMIN JUNG Schweiz AG
- Vincent Vida, founder and CEO of Upgrain
Prominent guest speakers at an exclusive dinner
The evening before, around 100 CEOs from leading Swiss companies met for an exclusive dinner. Guest speakers included José María Figueres (former President of Costa Rica), Sandrine Dixson-Declève (CEO of Earth4All & Honorary President of the Club of Rome) and Daniel Bischofberger (CEO of Accelleron Switzerland). The evening event offered a high-caliber platform for exchange and inspiration at C-level.
Circular economy and more
Around 40 national and international speakers organized the program on the day of the conference:
- Circular economy: Antonia Stalder (Managing Director of Prozirkula), Kristjan Jozipovic (CEO & Co-Founder of Lumvin), Nina Schaller (Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Luya Foods) and Jörg Lederbauer (Vice President Circular Economy BMW Group) presented practical approaches to closed material loops. Jozipovic explained: "Exchange instead of replace - as long as the quality is right, everyone is happy." Schaller showed how by-products from the food industry can be utilized thanks to fermentation: "This creates a win-win-win, because by-products are no longer thrown away, but used economically." Lederbauer emphasized the importance of cooperation: "No one can transform an industry or a world alone. We need a strong network to drive innovation."
- Supply chains: Ambassador Andrea Rauber Saxer (Head of Bilateral Economic Relations, SECO) made it clear: "Sustainability is not a luxury, not a fad." Stefan Brupbacher (Director of Swissmem) warned of geopolitical risks: "If the customs differences in the EU remain in place until the end of the year, the US business is effectively dead - we need to wake up." Christoph Birchler (CEO Maestrani) put forward the perspective of SMEs: "We SMEs are caught up in the supply chain of the big players. To stay fit for the future, we need a critical mass - and solutions that are also economically efficient."
- AI and energy management: Adam Elman (Sustainability Director at Google), Sebnem Erzan (Head of Travel Sustainability & Transport, Global Partnerships at Google) and Max Vogler (Senior Software Engineer at Google) presented how AI can reduce emissions with the Contrails project. "Artificial intelligence offers a huge opportunity and increases our efficiency - that's good for the planet, but also good for business," said Elman. It is also important to "make the best possible use of the good energy we already have." The controversial Munk debate on the electricity agreement between Switzerland and the EU brought additional explosiveness.
On the main stage, José María Figueres, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Jim Hagemann Snabe (Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Siemens) and Mathis Wackernagel (inventor of "Footprint") made strong statements on responsible leadership, systemic change and international cooperation.
Source and further information: www.sustainableswitzerland.ch
