Working behind the scenes of the Green Alley Award
How a working student job can put you in a more optimistic mood regarding our future
Guest blog by Kathrin Kamm
I can’t remember the exact moment, but I know that it was right in the middle of my bachelor studies, when I watched the news and saw pictures of stranded dead animals, wrapped in plastics. That was the moment when I fully comprehended the impact our actions have on the environment. Over the years, I became more and more conscious about environmental topics. While in the beginning this type of news put me in a very pessimistic mood, I told myself to stay positive and started to look for ways where I could contribute to a healthier environment in my everyday life. Changing to reusable water bottles and coffee cups, using my bike or public transportation instead of a car or separating my trash are just some of the examples. Of course, a lot of change is driven by policy makers, but I firmly believe that everyone can make a difference.
Looking for a working student job that has an impact
During my master thesis I was looking for a working student job and decided that not only in my private life, but in my professional life too, I wanted to do something meaningful for the environment. By coincidence I saw the ad by Landbell Group, looking for someone to support the Green Alley Award team. It was the fifth anniversary of the Green Alley Award, Europe’s first startup prize for the circular economy. As a working student I was able to use the communication knowledge and skills I had already acquired during my studies and on top I was able to work in a field I am very interested in.
Six ground-breaking startups presenting their idea live in Berlin
I started working in September 2018 when the preparations for the Green Alley Award Ceremony were already running at full speed. Right before I began, the six finalists for the 2018 finals in Berlin were chosen by an expert committee. I jumped right in when I learned everything about the six startups and their ground-breaking ideas. The weeks before the award were filled with preparing print material, writing, uploading and posting the last articles and coordinating the startups. Early in the morning of the grande finale together with my colleague I took a train to Berlin and met my team at the location for the night. During the afternoon, I welcomed our experts at the registration desk and helped to coordinate the finalists and experts. Watching the startups pitch their ideas in front of a dedicated audience and listening to the discussions afterwards was very inspiring!
In the end, it was Aeropowder, a startup based in the UK which won the award and the prize money of 25.000 Euros. Their idea: an alternative insulation material made of surplus feathers named “Pluumo”. At the after-show all participants and guests had the chance to network and to have some snacks and drinks.
After the award our team continued with a new Head of Marketing and PR, therefore we had several brainstorming meetings to kick off future Marketing and PR activities. I worked on guidelines, templates, presentations and flyers for the Landbell Group. Apart from that the organization of the 2019 Green Alley Award had started again: Network and invitation lists had to be completed, startups and investors had to be researched and social media postings and mailings had to be prepared.
Closing the loop by transforming the linear into a circular economy
After the six months that I have been working for the Green Alley Award, I developed an even more optimistic view on our waste problem. Now I can better understand how Landbell Group’s dual system contributes to a circular economy and that through reusing our products and resources we close the loop between taking something from the earth and giving back. Getting to know the amazing startup’s solutions of the Green Alley Award 2018 and the research on further circular economy solutions and topics showed me how many people work on ideas for a better future. I know that there is still a lot to do, but now that I was a part of the Green Alley Award team, I am much more optimistic.
You would like to work for the Green Alley Award Team? Have a look at our job offers on the Landbell Group website!