The Green Business Award of the Schweizerische Umweltstiftung nominates Reckhaus with Insect Respect. The award honours companies that are part of the solution, i.e. preserve the planet for future generations. The Green Business Award 2021 will be awarded at the Circular-Economy-Entrepreneur-Conference on 22 September 2021 in Bern.

With Insect Respect, Reckhaus is finalist (top 3) of the 13th German Sustainability Award in the category "Transformation for Biodiversity". The prize is Europe's largest award for sustainable commitment and was awarded on 4 December 2020 in Düsseldorf. It honours projects that promote social and ecological transformation.

On 18 September 2020, Insect Respect was honoured at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) in Bonn as a project of the UN Decade on Biodiversity 2020. Josef Tumbrinck (Deputy Head of Nature Conservation at BMU) presented the certificate and the prize - a tree made of wood - to Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus (initiator Insect Respect). The main theme of the UN Decade on Biodiversity in 2019 and 2020 is "Protecting insects - working together for nature's diversity". Awards will be given mainly to projects that contribute to the protection of insects, improve their living conditions and provide knowledge about the species and their importance for biodiversity and ecosystems.

Photo: Josef Tumbrinck and Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus © BMU / Reckhaus

Pioneers wanted! Reckhaus with Insect Respect is the winner of the Sustainability Heroes Award 2020 in the category Sustainability Innovations. As part of the Sustainability Heroes conference from November 2 to 4, 2020, the DQS (German Society for Sustainability) awarded Reckhaus for its ecological and social pioneering role.
The Sustainability Heroes Award is awarded in 8 different categories:

• Sustainability Innovation
• Carbon Footprint
• Social Engagement
• Sustainability Strategy
• Circular Economy
• Energy Efficiency
• Diversity
• Sustainable Water Management

INSECT RESPECT® is nominated for the Marketing for Future Award 2020. The award ceremony took place online on 17 June at 8pm. The award honours creative marketing measures in five categories that stand for the acceleration of positive change.

Reckhaus is nominated with Insect Respect for the Swiss Ethics Award 2020. Is it worth taking responsibility for a sustainable future? For almost 20 years the SWISS EXCELLENCE FORUM has been dealing with business ethics. Ethical conduct in business is a prerequisite for sustainable success. On September, 23rd 2020, the Swiss Ethics Award will be awarded for the ninth time during the Ethical Leadership Conference. The award is the recognition of ethical performance in business and honors achievements of organisations and companies that assume responsibility in a special way and are committed to sustainable corporate governance.

In 2020, the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) awarded the coveted German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment (IKU) for the seventh time. 132 companies, eight research institutions and one government authority competed for the prizes with their products and services. Twenty-two of them were nominated for the IKU, including the Insect Respect success story. BDI President Dieter Kempf: “The IKU recognizes the innovative strength of German companies and initiatives. They are problem-solvers for climate and environmental protection.” The winners were announced on March 26, 2020.

The international environmental prize «Energy Globe Award» in Switzerland was awarded to the insecticide manufacturer Reckhaus on September, 12th 2019 for the project InsectRespect. Triggered by the confrontation and co-operation with the Swiss conceptual artists Frank and Patrik Riklin Reckhaus has been transforming its business model since 2012. More than 187 countries and over 2,000 projects apply every year for the environmentel prize «Energy Globe Award» known worldwide. It honours regional, national and international projects which save resources and energy. The aim is to create an awareness for sustainable, everywhere applicable ecological solutions worldwide and to motivate people to take up responsibility themselves and do something. "With the Insect Respect seal of quality, Dr. Reckhaus has given insects a different meaning," said Manfred Schmid, the Austrian delegate for economic affairs and trade council of the Austrian Embassy's trade department (Bern). "He receives the Energy Globe Award Switzerland for his efforts to give insects the space and protection they need".

Download: press release (German)

On February 6, 2019, WirtschaftsWoche honored Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus for his "Unternehmerisches Herz“ (Entrepreneurial Heart). The award ceremony took place at the summit meeting of world market leaders in Schwäbisch Hall. The jury of the prize of the same name was enthusiastic about the innovative solution offered by the biocide entrepreneur to the entire industry with Insect Respect.

"At the beginning, Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus had everyone against him," says Daniel Rettig, Head of Success at WirtschaftsWoche, "but because he was convinced of his decision, he prevailed against all resistance - and was right. "We need role models who are not afraid of the uncomfortable, who courageously accept criticism and who are not afraid to put profit and responsibility in context," explains Robert Friedmann, Chairman of the Würth Group.

"An entrepreneurial heart should beat for a sustainable economy," says Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus. Models that are also sustainable in the long term and do not exacerbate the global loss of biodiversity are sustainable.

Download: press release (german)

To the winner's video in german (Link)

Photo from left to right: Daniel Rettig (Head of Success at WirtschaftsWoche), Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus and Robert Friedmann (Chairman of the Würth Group Management Board) © Sebastian Muth

On December, 10th 2018 the ZEIT WISSEN-team nominated Insect Respect for the award «Mut zur Nachhaltigkeit» in the category ACTION. Like the two other categories KNOWLEDGE and FLYING START this award is also includes a prize money of 10,000 euros.

The jury especially emphasised the label’s compensation areas and the educational work of the company Reckhaus to create awareness for the value of insects . ZEIT WISSEN honours that Reckhaus sets new standards for the pest control business branch.

The prize will be awarded on March, 28th 2019 in Hamburg at the ZEIT WISSEN Sustainability Congress for the seventh time.

Dr. Reckhaus at the ZEIT WISSEN short interview (german)

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) awarded Reckhaus as initiator of Insect Respect with the European Responsible Care Award „Environmental Responsibility” on October, 25th 2018 in Amsterdam. The jury chose the exceptional project as the winner because of its high innovative power. „Insect Respect offers a unique example how industry can commit to ecology and biodiversity“, explains the jury. The strong video material and the extensive communication on the value of insects convinced the jurors. „Through Insect Respect’s hard work we are able to share this best practice example with the whole chemical industry“, says Marco Mensink, general manager of CEFIC. On the occasion of the annual „Global Chemical Convention“ ceremony on October, 25th 2018 in Amsterdam the prize was handed over to Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus, initiator of Insect Respect.

What the judges say
“Insect Respect stands out because of its transformative and innovative character. This project clearly contributes to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Download english press Release and Winner's leaflet here.

Photo f.l.t.r.: Daniele Ferrari (Cefic President), Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus (Company Reckhaus, Initiator Insect Respect and award winner), Marco Mensink (Cefic General Manager)

Red Carpet for the Insects: Insect repellent manufacturer Reckhaus produced an animated feature film PRO Insects, which has now been awarded at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2018. With Insect Respect, the biocide company Reckhaus strives for the sustainable transformation of its industry. The jury of international experts selected the film "Little Giant" as the winner of 2018 in not only one but two categories - Information Films and Environmental Issues -. The award ceremony took place on September 27th 2018 in the Palm Beach, Cannes.

You can find more information in the media release.

The TOP 100 companies contest looks for innovative companies in Germany: The jury awards deliberate innovation management. Moreover, the TOP 100 companies meet up in the „Club of Excellence“ for discussion and networking.

The company’s U-turn impressed the jury, especially in the category „innovation-promoting top management“. Thus, Ranga Yogeshwar honoured Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus on June, 29th 2018 at the award ceremony in Ludwigsburg at the 5th German SME-Summit. „My goal is to sensitise society and to dislodge the biocide producing market“, said Reckhaus at the event.

Photo © KD Busch / compamedia

Video (Link)

In 2018, the Association of Chemical Industry e.V. (VCI) was on the outlook for business project contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the theme „Our contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals”. The jury of this year’s Responsible Care Award of the VCI Regional Association of Northrhine-Westphalia has award the Reckhaus company first place for its project “Insect Respect” on the parliamentary evening of the VCI NRW on 6th June 2018 in Düsseldorf. “Insect Respect stands out through its transformative character”, said jury member Dr. Ignacio Campino. “This contribution fits the spirit of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs, on the way to a sustainable society.” (Photo: Dr. Ignacio Campino (Chairman of the Jury), Ursula Heinen-Esser (Minister for Environment, Agriculture, Conservation and Consumer Protection of North-Rhine-Westphalia), Dr. Reckhaus, Angela Freimuth (Vice-President of the Parliament of North-Rhine-Westphalia). Photo: VCI NRW)

„How will we live tomorrow?“, is the price question of the Green Product Awards this year. Several hundreds submissions from 25 countries applied  to give the best and most ecological answer. Insect Respect is the winner of this competition. For innovation, design and sustainability, Insect Respect receives the Green Product Award 2017. The winners get honored officially the 20th of october in Berlin. The Insect Respect sign of quality for insect control with ecological compensation gets awarded for the unique communication about value and recession of insects.

Detailed information in the press release.

„Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt 2020“ is an intersection for associations from economy and nature conservation. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, commercial associations and nature protection organizations engage with this dialogue and action platform for a turnaround in the biodiversity loss. Within the action platform they initiate and publish concrete activities. In the activity field “communication, network building and information”, the “Insect Day” from Insect Respect and Natural History Museum Bielefeld has been presented as activity.

Picture: a project of the platform "Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt 2020"

Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus has been honored in Berlin with the prize „My good example“. On 30.3.2017, the initiator of the Insect Respect quality seal for insect control with ecological compensation received the award  from Liz Mohn, deputy chairperson of the Bertelsmann Foundation. Liz Mohn congratulated and showed herself delighted by the entrepreneurs’ commitment: “Economy and society have to be thought together. Companies are important players in the society. They adhere to their responsibility for employees, clients and their region”. The prize shall give also bolster up the young generation’s courage for change and commitment. Insect Respect has been awarded for its “strengthening of the awareness for biodiversity and the ecological value of insects”. Read more in the media release (in German). Photo credits: Thomas Kunsch

With the innovative packaging of the Dr. Reckhaus Flying Disk, the company Reckhaus won the coveted Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2016. The world-renowned competition showcases excellent communication design. In several days of meetings, the 26 experts of the Red Dot jury rated each of the numerous submissions live and on site. Designers and companies from 46 nations took part in this year's Award. The Dr. Reckhaus Flying Disk, is an insect repellent in the interior with highest ecological demands: reducing or eliminating biocide use, and if so, only with compensation, guaranteed by the quality mark INSECT RESPECT®. The award-winning packaging design highlights the value of insects, shows a picture of the compensation area for the product and leads consumers via QR-Code to a webcam picture of the insect-friendly greened roof. More information in the media release (in German).

Confirmed leadership: In April 2016, a top-class jury of 30 professors and specialised journalists voted for the Reckhaus GmbH & Co. KG and its innovative Label Insect Respect again as BEST OF INDUSTRY AWARD 2016 (in German).

On 29th may 2016, the greatest environmental and business prize of Europe has been handed over for the ninth time: The GreenTec Awards. The nominees and laureates at the green gala were celebrated and with a huge stage performance at the International Congress Center Munich. Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus received the certificate for the nomination of “Insect Respect” (category “lifestyle”). GreenTec Awards Initiator Sven Krüger said: „Urbanization results in underestimating the value of insects. Reckhaus is particularly engaged in ecological biocides. I am personally impressed by this long-standing commitment and the concrete, practical solutions. I congratulate on this great leap in the TOP 3 of the GreenTec Awards 2016." Since 2008, the awards honour green innovations from economy and science. (Photo: GreenTec Awards)

Insect Respect – the first quality mark for control neutral biocides – was voted into the top 3 in the category lifestyle of GreenTec Awards 2016. The award honors each year innovative products and projects that point the way to an environmentally conscious future. The awards ceremony with guests from business, politics, science, culture and media will take place on the 29th of May 2016 in Munich, Germany.

Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus was awarded on 24 November 2015 in Lausanne with the Swiss ethics prize. The jury pointed out in its explanatory memorandum the courage of the entrepreneur: "The Reckhaus company strategically positioned itself in an industry that is more known for negative environmental effects", said Anne-Catherine Lyon, State Councillor of the Department for education, youth and culture of the canton of Vaud, which presented the award as the honorary president of the jury.
The realignment impressed by a "surprising business model with strong differentiation, offering at the same time under the label insect respect solutions for the entire industry", said the president of the jury Pierre Epars, member of General Directorate of BG Ingénieurs Conseils SA. The Swiss ethics prize is awarded since 2005 by the College of engineering and management of the canton of Vaud (HEIG-VD). It promotes ethics, sustainable development and social responsibility in strategies of companies and public organizations. Please find a short video of the award ceremony here.

In August 2015, Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus has been selected for his innovation Insect Respect as one of the "Faces for Sustainability (German: Gesichter der Nachhaltigkeit). The platform ist published by Alexandra Hildebrandt and Hauke Schwiezer and presents pioneers of the social change: People that walk the talk to rethink sustainability and design it in their own ways. It shows sustainability not only as a partial ecological issue, but with its whole range cross all social areas.

The entrepreneur Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus was particularly honored at the gala of the European Culture Brand Awards 2015 in Berlin on 29 October 2015: "Many jury members, including myself, are absolutely impressed and convinced by the commitment of Reckhaus," said Roland Bischof, Vice President of the Professional Association 'Fachverband für Sponsoring e.V.' in his eulogy. In particular he highlighted the courage of the company in the transformation of art and business: "I hope that there are many imitators for that in future." Together with the conceptual artists Frank and Patrik Riklin, Reckhaus realized the art action "Fliegen retten" (Rescue the flies), which radically revolutionized the business model of his company. The expert jury of 29 members of the 10. Culture Brand Awards indeed opted for another winning project in the category "European Cultural Investor 2015", and asked the laudatory for a special mention: "To entrust art representatives with innovative ideas and recommendations - even if it initially looks counterproductive for the company's results - and then just admit to it, that's brave and consistent".

The Huber Publishing House for New Media assigns the German Industry Award to companies with a high economic, social, technological and ecological value. In April 2015, a top-class jury of 30 professors and specialised journalists voted for the Reckhaus GmbH & Co. KG and its innovative Label Insect Respect as BEST OF INDUSTRY AWARD 2015 (in German).

The German Initiative for medium-sized businesses and the MIT Blog published an interview on the Best of distinction with the initiator of Insect Respect, Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus (in German).

The Dr. Reckhaus Fly Trap with the Insect Respect Label is choosen for the “Green Selection 2015” of the Green Product Award. Many submissions of high quality from over 20 countries reached the Green Product Award initiators. The jury highlighted that the "Green Selection" contributions are characterized by authenticity, creativity and a mould-breaking innovations. The elected products are presented in  detail on the Website of the Green Product Award.

Berliner Volksbühne (Green Salon), 29 January 2015: Within the context of the 1st International Strategy Slam and at the invitation of brand strategy associations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus was invited to present the sustainable strategy of Insect Respect. The model of ecological neutrality was greeted with great acclaim by the brand strategists in Berlin – which was also the case at the Live Stream Event in Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich. In the Strategy Slam Award competition, which was decided by measuring the applause sound level, Insect Respect secured the second place with just one decibel less than the winner.

Video of the presentation (YouTube, in German)

The transformation of Dr Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus vividly shows how a self-critical reflection on the value of insects gives rise to thought-leading in the truest sense of the word. For his courage in daring to radically transform himself from a conventional biocide manufacturer to a provider of more ecological insect control with the INSECT RESPECT quality label, the Bielefeld entrepreneur was awarded the 2014 Vordenker Prize. Initiated in 2010 by the Querdenker-Club – which had over 400,000 members – the prize was awarded to outstanding minds, innovative companies and special achievements in business.

Note: The Querdenker Platform for Innovation came into being as early as 1999 and distances itself from a movement of the same name that has been known since the Corona Pandemic (see the CEO's statement).

The prize for German Entrepreneur of the Year is awarded every two years by the Harvard Clubs of Germany. The award recognises people who turn entrepreneurial visions into reality and therefore make a valuable contribution to society. For his commitment to promoting the sustainable treatment of insects and raising awareness of insects, Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus was elected among the top three «Family Business» entrepreneurs. The award ceremony was held on 30th September 2014 in Frankfurt's Opernturm.

The Kyocera Environmental Prize is one of the leading awards for sustainable business practices in the German-speaking part of Europe. In 2014 Insect Respect was chosen as one of the top three initiatives in the category of "biodiversity, nature conservation and water pollution control". The award ceremony took place in the presence of Prof. Klaus Töpfer, jury chairman and former Environment Minister of Germany.

Pictures from the award ceremony

The ESPRIX Forum is the leading network for business excellence in Switzerland. Dr. Hans-Dietrich Reckhaus was invited to present Insect Respect as a model example of "Sustainable Excellence" at the conference accompanying the ESPRIX Swiss Award for Excellence 2014. The event took place on March 6th at the KKL Luzern in presence of the Swiss President Didier Burkhalter.

Video reports from the ESPRIX Forum
Statements by participants and hosts (in German)

How can business, culture and creativity be combined profitably? The new publication „Innovation Economies“ from the CREATIVE.NRW competence centre demonstrates this using 14 exemplary companies from Germany and Europe, also including Reckhaus and Insect Respect.

Book chapter as PDF document
Interview with Dr. H.-D. Reckhaus
Video clip on the presentation