New Business Models | 2019

Michael Beitl

Born: 1994 Position: Managing Director Company: Kern Tec kern-tec.com

The Austrian Michael Beitl founded the start-up Kern Tec together with his team to utilise the valuable unsaturated fatty acids and vegetable proteins from stone fruit seeds - a waste product in the juice industry.

Over half a million tonnes of these seeds are seen as waste in the fruit processing industry. Behind this, however, lies a gift of nature, as the ingredients even outshine other nuts in some cases. Whether cherries, apricots, peaches or plums - by developing an industrial plant, the start-up can extract the coveted seeds and shells. The team processes these into important basic ingredients for the food industry, such as oil or protein. The areas of application are diverse - from muesli bars and snacks to smoothies and protein flour. It was of absolute importance to the team to recycle 100% of the core. Therefore, they found wonderful fields of application for the ground peel as an industrial abrasive or substitute for microplastics in cosmetics.

Allowing local fruit growers to participate in the value chain As far as raw materials are concerned, Kern Tec is committed to sourcing raw materials as regionally as possible and uses fruit processing companies. Kern Tec wants Austrian fruit growers and large-scale processors to participate in the value chain. To this end, the multi-award-winning company has been working on a system to collect and process the kernels regionally. In 2019, the core rescue operation was launched with the first 200 tonnes. The passion to found a company and to create something inspired and motivated Michael Beitl from an early age. During his last semester at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, he decided to forego a Master's degree and apply his acquired knowledge in practice. After one year, the "snap idea", according to Beitl, became a registered company. Since then, he has had only one goal: not to stop until the last nucleus is saved.

BIANCA DÖNICKE

Born: 1980 Position: Head of European Continuous Improvement & Sustainability Company: Haworth

Inspiring and sustainable working environments When does an office become sustainable? What criteria must be fulfilled and what contribution does sustainable corporate development make?   In the course of digitalisation, working environments that are optimised for the new way of working together are becoming increasingly relevant. Whether lab, hub, coworking space or open-plan office: inspiring work environments should break creative boundaries in the mind - or at least stretch them considerably. But what are manufacturers doing to make working environments not only more inspiring, but also more sustainable?   Sustainability and social responsibility Bianca Dönicke has been working in the areas of social responsibility and sustainability in companies in various sectors for over 14 years. For eight years, the graduate economist has been responsible for sustainability management and for four years for the management system for Haworth in Europe. Haworth is one of the world's largest office furniture manufacturers, a knowledge partner for inspiring work environments and, as a third-generation family business, also concerned with sustainability. Bianca Dönicke is also a member of the corporate advisory board of B.A.U.M. e.V. and an expert according to LEED, an international standard for sustainable buildings. In her spare time, she is involved in young, sustainable entrepreneurship in Kenya to fight poverty.

AXEL DREHER

Born: 1970 Position: Managing Director Company: Wolford AG wolford.com

For a world beyond next season Austrian company Wolford is currently the world's first and only company in the apparel and textile industry to be twice GOLD certified by Cradle to Cradle Certified™. At New Business Models, Wolford CEO Axel Dreher talks about opportunities and challenges.   Axel Dreher has been a member of Wolford's Executive Board since 2013. Since 2017, the graduate in business administration has been responsible for strategy, marketing and sales as well as development, production and logistics at Wolford AG.    Certified for both biological and technical cycles Since the beginning of April 2019, the domestic company based in Bregenz has been the world's first and so far only company in the apparel and textile industry to be certified GOLD by Cradle to Cradle Certified™ for the development of biologically and technically recyclable products. The first products for the biological cycle - leggings, jumper, top and shirt - have been available since September 2018 and are biodegradable after their lifetime as a garment. This is made possible by the special components and a corresponding adaptation of the Wolford production process. The cycle is closed by composting the products into biogas for the production plant and humus. At the centre of the technical cycle is the polyamide Econyl® yarn, which is regenerated from fishing nets from the ocean and other nylon waste. This maintains the cycle without producing waste. The first technically recyclable tights will be on the market in 2020.

GERALD HEERDEGEN

Born: 1970 Position: Managing Director Company: Fahnen-Gärtner GmbH fahnen-gaertner.com

With humanity to success The CEO of Fahnen-Gärtner GmbH, based in Mittersill, took an unusual path with his company at an early stage. Let yourself be inspired by a "model company" of a somewhat different kind. True to the motto: "Success follows the joy of work!"

From management style to production to customer service - Gerald Heerdegen has always followed his own path with his company Fahnen-Gärtner. Based on numerous training and further education courses in the field of human energetics, he and his employees developed a unique corporate culture with a strong focus on people and the common good.

Committed to progress, quality and sustainability As a visionary, Gerald Heerdegen not only cares about responsible entrepreneurship, but also about his homeland, which is why he is committed to a model region of Pinzgau. As a pioneer, he repeatedly makes his mark. The co-development of a world first in digital printing - the ColorBooster DS printing machine - is a significant innovation in production in recent years. In terms of products, the Powerflag stands for sustainability in the industry. This makes Fahnen-Gärtner the world market leader in the high-quality digital printing flag market.

ANDERS INDSET

Born: 1978 Company: Economic philosopher wirtschaftsphilosoph.com

Rethinking the economy. With his approach to practical philosophy, the "Rock'n'Roll Plato" is one of the world's leading economic philosophers and one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in Europe.

The Norwegian's latest book entitled "Quantum Economy - What comes after digitalisation?" deals with a completely new system for the economy. Among other things, it is about "thinking further about the unfinished work of the neoclassical model of capitalism." In this context, Anders develops three scenarios for the next ten years in which we irreversibly decide our future. Anders argues that if we want to understand society, we must rethink the economy.

Sensational, provocative theses Anders Indset is known for his unconventional way of thinking, his provocative theseshas been selected as one of the 30 Global Thinkers on the "Radar 2018″ by Thinkers50, the leading ranking of global business thinkers. The ranking, which is also referred to as the "Oscars of management thinkers", described him as a thinker who will "shape the future of corporate management in a sustainable way". 

CHRISTIAN KROLL 

Born: 1983 Position: Managing Director Ecosia GmbH Company: Ecosia - The search engine that plants trees ecosia.org

Ecosia: Successful as a social business. Ecosia shows how to plant millions of trees with a search engine. Founder and CEO Christian Kroll provides fascinating insights behind the scenes of a successful social business.

He founded Ecosia with the goal of creating a greener and better world for everyone, Christian Kroll said in an interview. Ecosia is a free search engine that uses its profits from advertisements for worldwide reforestation. Thus, every search query reduces CO2 in the atmosphere.   Changing the world sustainably The Berlin-based company wants to actively combat climate change. In 2007, the decision-makers therefore decided, among other things, to build the company's own solar plant. Today, 100 percent of the energy for the Ecosia servers comes from sustainable sources. At New Business Models 2019, Christian Kroll gives insights into the history of the company, talks about challenges and tells why he decided to make the company unsellable.  

TERESA OBERHAUSER

Born: 1990 Position: EU Project Manager Company: Circularise circularise.com

"Circularise": How the transition to the Circular Economy can work The start-up "Circularise" aims to overcome the communication barrier that limits current and future progress towards a sustainable economic model.

By using blockchain and a zero-knowledge protocol, the Circularise team wants to create transparency and communication in circular value chains and thus approach this goal step by step. For this purpose, they are developing a blockchain-based communication protocol, so-called "smart questioning", to promote transparency in the value chain without disclosing data records or supply chain partners.

Research and pilot projects in the Circular Economy Teresa Oberhauser works on research and pilot projects in the context of recycled materials certification and value chain communication for the circular economy and is the EU project manager of Circularise. She gained international experience early on, including at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and was involved in major international projects such as COP 23 and the World Ministerial Conference on Sport in 2013.

GUNTER SPERKA

Born: 1960 Position: Head of the Climate Protection and Sustainability Unit Company: Office of the Salzburg Provincial Government salzburg.gv.at

Climate Protection - Possibilities, Power and/or Powerlessness?  Gunter Sperka, Head of the Climate Protection and Sustainability Unit of the Salzburg Provincial Government, provides information on the current state of the climate debate, among other things. 

Not just since, but increasingly since Greta Thunberg, climate protection has once again been a big topic in society. But what exactly is it all about, why does warming have to be stabilised quickly, what is still in store for us and who is actually "to blame"? What levers need to be set in motion, at governmental and societal level, and who actually has these levers in their hands? Gunter Sperka will talk about this and even more details on climate protection, opportunities and responsibility at New Business Models 2019. 

Climate and Energy Strategy SALZBURG 2050 Gunter Sperka is a member of various national and European committees, including representing the province of Salzburg in the "National Climate Protection Committee", and is responsible for the umbrella management of the Climate Protection Strategy SALZBURG 2050 as well as the Master Plan Climate+Energy 2020. The long-term climate and energy strategy up to the year 2050 follows a target path with clear stages and concrete interim targets. The interim goal by 2020, for example, is to reduce greenhouse gases by 30 per cent (in relation to 2005) and to expand the share of renewable energies to 50 per cent.