Tide Ocean SA wins Swiss Ethics Award 2022

The times could not be better for discussing ethics, sustainability and leadership concepts of the future: A war is raging in Eastern Europe, climate change is making itself increasingly felt in our country as well, a pandemic has highlighted the limits of global supply chains, and all of this brings home to us the fragile foundations on which our prosperity is built. This was grist to the mill of Werner von Allmen, founder and CEO of the Swiss Excellence Forum, which held the Future Leadership Forum on May 11, 2022 and once again presented the Swiss Ethics Award. Werner von Allmen made it clear that the award alone cannot make the world a better place, but it should help to sensitize society to the issue of sustainable excellence.

As on earth, so in the universe

Before the awards ceremony took place, the 150 or so guests at the KKL Luzern enjoyed exciting and sometimes thought-provoking presentations. First, Michael Brenner, member of the Collegial Executive Board of the Weleda Group, gave an insight into what "Future Leadership" can look like in concrete terms: Guided by values and a purpose for the company's existence supported by the entire workforce. Thinking, feeling and wanting are the basis of everything we do - and having the courage to take responsibility for the whole.

Astrophysicist and space researcher Prof. Dr. Kathrin Altwegg then took the audience into completely different worlds. Is there a need for ethics in space? A question that the speaker answered in the affirmative. Because the same questions we ask ourselves on Earth - who "owns" it? Are there areas we need to protect or are we allowed to go anywhere? - also apply to the universe. In this respect, she was critical of the latest developments in the "privatization" of orbit, for example by super-rich people such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson, who are helping to turn space into a new "Wild West" with space tourism or cheap satellites.

A paradigm shift is needed

Historian and philosopher Philipp Blom took a look at the history of mankind, which has always managed to solve problems on its own. But he sees us currently at a turning point: "We are at the end of a cultural history where man is the 'boss'," said Philipp Blom. Global problems can therefore no longer be solved simply "from within the system." A rethink and paradigm shift are necessary, as happened during the last "Little Ice Age" in the 16th/17th century, for example, when education and research formed the basis for a "Golden Age" in the Netherlands, for example.

Some aspects of the presentations heard were further deepened in a panel discussion led by Werner von Allmen. Jesuit Dr. Christian Rutishauser also brought in the theological and spiritual perspective. For him, one of the qualities of a leader is to be able to let oneself be led. When asked about the current situation in Eastern Europe, the panel agreed that ethics and war cannot be reconciled. But in the face of a clearly identifiable aggressor, even pacifist attitudes reach their limits: Those who are attacked should be allowed to defend themselves, if necessary also by force of arms...

Swiss Ethics Award 2022: Projects with a future

Then followed the presentation of the five organizations nominated for the Swiss Ethics AwardEnergie360° presented its climate-positive project for recycling wood residues into heating energy. Through a pyrolytic process, the residual product is not CO2, but pure carbon, which can be used e.g. as fertilizer or aggregate for building material. Hunziker Partner AG was nominated for its internal training concept, which follows a holistic approach and is not limited to professional skills. For example, employees are also trained in ecological behavior. Recycling Paradies, in turn, allows people with impairments or difficult biographies to regain their footing in the working world. The jury particularly emphasized the successful combination of ecological benefits and social responsibility.

Yourharvest's "Happy Hazelnut" project has set itself the task of providing a humane environment for the hundreds of migrant workers and their families who harvest hazelnuts in Turkey every year. Child labor is replaced by schools, and instead of living in shacks, the migrant workers have a clean shelter.

Clean oceans and livelihood security for fishermen

The winning company, Tide Ocean SA, represented by Thomas Schori, was singled out by the jury for special recognition for several reasons: Firstly, the organization is tackling the global problem of ocean plastic pollution. To this end, Tide Ocean operates a complete value chain for upcycled ocean plastic and is particularly active in Southeast Asia, the region with the highest plastic waste rate. A specially developed process converts the plastic waste into high-quality plastic granules that can already be used in many products. On the other hand, fishermen who used to live from fishing as sea nomads and can no longer continue this traditional lifestyle today receive a price from Tide Ocean for collecting plastic well above the market and thus a new source of income. Social enterprises sort and process the plastic. The workers employed there receive social security, training and, in some cases, housing. The potential for recycling plastic waste is great: According to Thomas Schori, only just under ten percent of the plastic produced worldwide is not yet recycled, but "ends up somewhere in the world" - or just: In the oceans, which with their flora and fauna make an important contribution not only to our climate, but also form the basis of life for millions of people.

More information: www.swiss-excellence-forum.ch