BIC Graphic won the Company of the Year category. F.t.l.: The jury members Nils Bader (Green Future Club), Elke Röhm and Klaus Kuso (BIC) together with the PSI Director, Petra Lassahn.
D – The award ceremony of the PSI Academy Awards was held in a festival hall in Cologne on September 11, 2025. The PSI had revised the industry sustainability prize, which was previously conferred under the title PSI Sustainability Awards and had also brought an external partner on board in the form of Nils Bader from the Green Future Club and initiator of the Green Product Award.
All the nominated products and campaigns could be examined at uniform stands during the festive gala evening. They included many inspiring innovations – from biodegradable confetti and a recyclable shopper made of mono-material, through to an event shirt with a washable imprint enabling the item to be reused.
The awards ceremony was staged in “Cologne’s festival hall,” the Gürzenich.
The award winners in the nine categories were ultimately called up the stage and celebrated appropriately.
The winners of the PSI Academy Awards 2025 are:
- Stanley/Stella (Apparel, Textiles)
- kraftschluck (Lifestyle, Accessories)
- Pagani Pens (School, Office Supplies)
- Halfar (Bags, Luggage, Travel)
- Herforder Werkstätten (Re-Lifestyle)
- Candy Converters (Emerging Innovators)
- Re-Shirt (Newcomer of the Year)
- Upside relationship marketing & two lives london (Campaign of the Year)
- BIC Graphic (Company of the Year).
Second and third place awards were presented in some of the categories, but not in others.
The entertaining evening event made it clear that sustainable and future-oriented transformation certainly doesn’t rule out enjoyable moments.
Education format
The concluding panel of the PSI Academy.
The premiere of the PSI Academy – the PSI’s new education format – had already been staged at the same location during the day. The significance of sustainability in the business context was explained in-depth in the course of nine high-profile lectures and a panel. Speakers from, among others Brax, The Cloud One or Discarded Spirits demonstrated how their brands have designed successful, more sustainable products and services while securing themselves a competitive edge or tangible, economic profit in the process. Further speakers offered diverse perspectives on a topic that nobody within the industry can afford to ignore – which also became evident.
In particular, the event succeeded in demonstrating that sustainability is not only a tiresome obligation, but also offers many opportunities. Although some participants would have preferred a more direct reference to the promotional products industry, the new format did indeed prove that knowledge transfer and networking can offer significant added value for all market players.
// Dr. Mischa Delbrouck
Photos: Mischa Delbrouck, @ WA Media
