BSB Awards 2025

Deutscher Text unterhalb des englischen.

23. European BSB Innovation Award^®2025 for cosmetics and natural products,

their ingredients, packaging and applied concepts

6. BSB Innovation Award^® Environment

The Original since 2003

The BSB European Innovation Award will be presented for the twentythird time in 2025 by the independent BSB consulting and service office Dr. Riedel.

Submission periods

December 1, 2024 to February 14, 2025 (categories 1-3)

Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025, 6 p.m. CET

December 1, 2024 to May 30, 2025 (categories 4 and 5)

Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2025, 6 p.m. CEST

The following applies to all deadlines: ALL the components of an application, in particular the SAMPLES required depending on the sub-category, must be here at this point in time.

IMPORTANT CHANGE from 2025:

From 2025 there will be a submission fee from the 3rd submission (inclusive) for many submitters. In other words: the first 2 submissions of a year are still free.

The fee is 150 euros net per submission plus VAT.

The following scale applies:

1. Sponsors

Level 1-3: all submissions free

Level 4: four (4) submissions free

Level 5: three (3) free

The participation fees are included in the sponsorship contribution.

2. Non-sponsors

Fees from the 3rd submission.

The fees must be paid by April 1st (for spring awards) or September 1st (fall awards) of a year. If this is not done, the submissions are automatically considered rejected.

Please note our conditions of participation on the start page at the bottom!

VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ.

Basic Rules:

1. One application per company and sub-category.

(As a trader you can submit applications for 2 of your companies)

2. Each application must be assigned to one of the 15 sub-categories. The desired assignment is checked. As a rule, we follow the wishes of the submitting companies, but BSB reserves the right to correct the assignment if necessary. A submission without attribution is considered incomplete and cannot be accepted.

3. Finished products companies can ONLY apply for Sub.-Cat. III, IV, V, VI, IX, X, XI, XIV.

4. Raw Material suppliers can ONLY apply for Sub.-Cat. I, II, VII, VIII, XI (Apps only), XII, XIII, XV

3. Submission of finished products or samples (Sub-Cat. XII) in all relevant sub-categories

a) When sending from outside of Germany, please plan at least 3, preferably 4 weeks so that the products arrive in good time before the end of the deadline.

b) for customs:

i. be sure to name the content.

ii. indicate that you send SAMPLES.

iii. do not state the value of goods that the products would cost on sale, because we do not sell them, we test them. Enter €1 as the value of the goods, because customs do not recognize a value of €0.

c) Sample size: typical trade fair give-aways.

d) For applications from outside the EU: the EORI-number of BSB is DE2084295

Preamble

The innovation award, created by BSB founder Dr. Jan-H. Riedel in 2003, aims to promote the worldwide dissemination of current knowledge.

BSB has the ambition to provide the industry with the best possible support and therefore works closely with it.

A) Which prizes should be awarded in 2025?

Category 1: Cosmetics

Raw materials

- Subcategory I: most innovative raw material "active substances"

(All types of raw materials with an active effect on the skin, unless specifically mentioned in sub-category II; for raw materials intended for natural products, please use sub-categories VI and VII.

- Sub-category II: most innovative raw material "Functional/ Recipients"

Functional ingredients with an effect on the skin such as moisturizers, hydrating agents, emollients, UV absorbers as well as antioxidants or raw materials that are necessary for the formulation, e.g. preservation, emulsifiers, surfactants, thickeners etc.

Finished products section

Sub-category III and IV: Finished products, made for European markets (not only EU) available in stores or in beauty salons/ barber shops:

- Sub-category III: most innovative product

Unfortunately, hair shaping products, hair colors and pure parfum products (fragrances in solvent) cannot be submitted.

- Sub-category IV: best packaging

(Note: the products registered in sub-category III are automatically rated here as well, unless the same company has already made an extra submission here. Our basic rule then applies: 1 submission per company and sub-category)

Category 2: finished products of all cosmetics fields which do not fall

under categories 1 or 3

Sub-category V and VI: Finished products of all cosmetics fields, whole world

-Sub-category V: most innovative product

Medical products, products from influencers / internet-based (not available in stores) / indie brands / private labels /  speciality products.

Unfortunately, hair shaping products, hair colors and pure parfum products (fragrances in solvent) cannot be submitted.

Evaluation criteria are product story, use of raw materials and application test

- Sub-category VI: best packaging

(Note: the products registered in sub-category V are automatically rated here as well, unless the same company has already made an extra submission here. Our basic rule then applies: 1 submission per company and sub-category)

Category 3: Natural products

Raw materials, especially developed for natural products

- sub-category VII: most innovative raw material "actives"

(explanation and definition see sub-category I)

- sub-category VIII"functionals/recipients"

(explanation and definition see sub-category II)

Finished products:

- sub-category IX: most innovative product available in stores or in beauty salons/ barber shops (Products that are only available online fall under sub-category V)

Unfortunately, hair shaping products, hair colors and pure parfum products (fragrances in solvent)  cannot be submitted.

- sub-category X: best packaging

(Note: the products registered in sub-category IX are automatically rated here as well, unless the same company has already made an extra submission here. Our basic rule then applies: 1 submission per company and sub-category)

Category 4: Concepts

- sub-Category XI: concepts for new products of all kind for cosmetics finished products and Apps.

-sub-Category XII: concepts for new products of all kind of ingredients.

Category 5: Environment

Raw materials

- sub-category XIII: ingredients of all kind

Finished products

-sub-category XIV: finished products of all cosmetics fields as well as household products

Industrial processes

- sub-category XV: all types of industrial processes or circular economy approaches with positive environmental impact.

Evaluation criteria: how strong is the positive impact on the environment based on the available data. More details see under c).

B) Evaluation criteria of the jurys

Can be found under "Starting page/ additional information" (please scroll down)

C) How and where to send the applications?

Finished Products (sub-categories III-VI, IX, X):

Explanation

In sub-categories III and IX, end products are submitted that are either already on a European market or are about to be launched.

Sub-category V: from whole world

Please sent 5 (five) samples of the product you apply for to the address below. If the text on the package is not in english or german please add a translation into english. If you want to submit the same product here AND in category 5 "environment" please sent 10 products.

ADDRESS:

"BSB Dr. Riedel e.K., Kasernenstr. 11, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany".

Parts of the application:

1.  to ensure that your shipment arrives safely with us, please provide us with the parcel tracking number and the name of the carrier if you have this information.

For applications from outside the EU: the EORI-number of BSB is DE2084295

We do not assume any liability for the correct delivery of your shipment.

2. please make a suggestion for assigning your submission to a sub-category. BSB usually follows the suggestion. However, it is checked for compliance and usefulness and revised if necessary.

Raw Materials (sub-categories I, II and VII, VIII):

Please sent your applications (best: Powerpoint presentation. OPP=one pager is not enough) via eMail or mail (data transfer by eg "We transfer" (if the data size exceeds 4 MB, please use data transfer in any case!), stick; electronic documentations only, no samples):

eMail: award@bsbinnovationaward.de.

Please make a suggestion for assigning your submission to a sub-category. BSB usually follows the suggestion. However, it is checked for compliance and usefulness and revised if necessary.

Applied Concepts (category 4/sub-category XI and XII):

Explanation

Category 4 is not intended for the same products as in categories 1, 2 or 3.

This category is for products in the phase between idea and concrete market launch. Because of this we called it „applied concepts“.

If you have an "applied concept" besides finished products, raw materials please or an app ask us if is fits to this category.

i) for finished products

Typical signs that an end product falls under category 4 are a) no final packaging, b) no final marketing brochures etc.

5 samples with typical sales volume

ADDRESS:

"BSB Dr. Riedel e.K.", Kasernenstr. 11, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.

 If you want to submit the same product here AND in category 5 "environment" please sent 10 samples.

Parts of the application:

1. to ensure that your shipment arrives safely with us, please provide us with the parcel tracking number and the name of the carrier if you have this information.

For applications from outside the EU: the EORI-number of BSB is DE2084295

We do not assume any liability for the correct delivery of your shipment.

2. please make a suggestion for assigning your submission to a sub-category. BSB usually follows the suggestion. However, it is checked for compliance and usefulness and revised if necessary.

ii) for raw materials

5 samples of the raw material(s), the concept is dealing with, in a basic FORMULATION has to be sent in besides a written concept in english (or german) and full declaration. 

Sample size for raw materials: typical give-aways eg on fairs.

ADDRESS:

"BSB Dr. Riedel e.K.", Kasernenstr. 11, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.

If you want to submit the same product here AND in category 5 "environment" please sent 10 samples.

Parts of the application:

1. to ensure that your shipment arrives safely with us, please provide us with the parcel tracking number and the name of the carrier if you have this information.

For applications from outside the EU: the EORI-number of BSB is DE2084295

We do not assume any liability for the correct delivery of your shipment.

2. please make a suggestion for assigning your submission to a sub-category. BSB usually follows the suggestion. However, it is checked for compliance and usefulness and revised if necessary.

iii) Apps

For example, if you, as a raw material supplier, have an app that helps end product manufacturers to formulate products, it can be submitted here.

Environment (category 5/ sub-categories XIII - XV):

Raw materials, finished products and production processes can be submitted in this category which fall under one or more of the following terms:

- Source of ingredient(s) including replacement of other ingredient

- Additives, e.g. preservatives in a finished product

- Biodegradability

-Packaging reduction (Red. of virgin plastic, proportion of recycled material)   

- Waste reduction

- Water usage in the production process

- Energy usage and type, i.e. renewable

- Emission reduction/ ig CO2 Reduction/ Neutrality

- Material Health Cradle-to-Cradle

- Social Fairness (Fair trade, Fair for life, wages, no child labor)

- OSHA across the entire value chain

If you think you also have a product or a raw material that would fit in here, but it does not fall under any of the above terms, feel free to contact us.

A raw material, finished product or packaging that was submitted in one of the categories 1-4 can ADDITIONALLY be submitted here. In the case of finished products and packaging please submit 10 instead of 5 products because they will be given to two different jurys.

Parts of the application:

1. to ensure that your shipment arrives safely with us, please provide us with the parcel tracking number and the name of the carrier if you have this information.

For applications from outside the EU: the EORI-number of BSB is DE2084295

We do not assume any liability for the correct delivery of your shipment.

2. please make a suggestion for assigning your submission to a sub-category. BSB usually follows the suggestion. However, it is checked for compliance and usefulness and revised if necessary.

3. please send a document (best: Powerpoint presentation) in English stating which end product / raw material/ process etc. you are promoting and what is particularly environmentally friendly. In the case of a raw material or a production process additional background information is needed. 

D) Eligibility requirements 

- when applying for a product these requirements are accepted automatically. Please check the requirements carfully!

For details please see the bottom of the front page (home, please scroll down)

- BSB Innovation Award is a registered trademark by BSB. 

 

E) Who makes the decisions in 2025?

SPRING AWARDINGS

COSMETICS

Raw materials:

Dr Alfred Markowetz (P&G, GER)

Mr. Dirk Hentrich (Henkel, GER)

N.N.

Finished Products and Packaging:

Dr Peter Roethlisberger and team (Lipoid-Kosmetik, CH)

Dr Ulrich Issberner and team (BASF, GER)

Ms Barbara Obermayer (Rahn, CH)

NATURAL PRODUCTS

Raw materials:

Dr Arnaud Kindbeiter  (Weleda, CH)

N.N.

Ms Judith Fiedler (oneRD GmbH , CH)

Finished Products and Packaging:

Ms Beate Annies (Merck, GER)

Ms Julia Keith (Protec Ingredia, GER)

Ms Ev Suess (Symrise, GER)

FALL (Autumn) AWARDINGS

Applied CONCEPTS

(NATURAL PRODUCTS AND COSMETICS and their RAW MATERIALS)

Dr. Jan-H. Riedel (BSB, GER) Speaker of the jury

N.N.

N.N.

Environment

(NATURAL PRODUCTS AND COSMETICS and RAW MATERIALS as well as their production processes)

N.N.

N.N.

Raw materials and Processes only

Dr. Jan-H. Riedel (BSB, GER) Speaker of the jury

Finished Products only

N.N.

F) Prizes

All winners (1-3 prizes) are allowed to show the free Innovation Prize Winner Logo

on their website and in all marketing activities.

Costs for additional certificates:

For Sponsors:

still for free

All other companies:

i) for self-printing: 100 Euro plus VAT

ii) printed: 150 Euro plus VAT plus shipping and handling if company is not located in Germany

iii) printed and in a decorative frame: 200 Euro plus VAT plus shipping and handling if company is not located in Germany

Certificates of Wins from previous years can be reordered (see costs above).

G) Date and venue of awards ceremony 2025 (ONLY categories 1-3)

To be announced. In spring 2025.

 

H) Awards ceremony schedule and participants (to G)

7:30 p.m. Banquet (private party) for award participants, jury members and representatives of the sponsor companies as well as guests, press...

(venue and schedule to be announced)

 

J) Awards schedule for Environment and Applied concepts (Categories 4, 5)

As usual, the BSB ENVIRONMENTAL Innovation Prize is awarded virtually in the fall (autumn; usually September) of a year without a live event.

This is to prevent the “carbon footprint” from being unnecessarily influenced. The winners will receive their prizes by (e-)mail.

2025:  to be announced.

K) Sponsoring

Are you interested in being a sponsor?

Please contact us directly via

- Use the contact below at the top of the page

- via our other contact options in the middle area on the home page