Martin Wittau

Bundesvereinigung Nachhaltigkeit e.V. (German Federal Association for Sustainability) We turn sustainability from strategy into practice – connecting SMEs, education, and communities in Europe and Africa to shape sustainable urban transitions. The German Federal Association for Sustainability (BVNG) is a national non-profit association founded in 2013 as an outcome of the Ark Metropolis project (2010–2013). Ark Metropolis served as a pioneering model for citizen participation in urban development processes in Berlin, demonstrating how community-driven approaches can shape greener, more inclusive cities. Building on this foundation, BVNG was established to continue and scale up these ideas, providing a permanent structure to advance sustainability in Germany, Europe, and beyond. Since its founding, BVNG has focused on three interlinked fields: Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development (VESD), the Circular Economy, and urban transformation. Our mission is to connect policy, education, business, and civil society in order to create systemic change and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal. We work at the interface of practice and policy, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take on a leading role in sustainability transitions. To date, BVNG has supported over 600 SMEs in integrating sustainability strategies, embedding circular practices, and aligning training programs. Our holistic consulting empowers SMEs not only to remain competitive in the face of green and digital transitions, but also to become active drivers of innovation and talent development. The Circular Economy is a cornerstone of our work. Together with our networks partners we design qualification programs and practical tools that help SMEs rethink value chains, close resource loops, and bring circular principles into day-to-day operations. By combining these approaches with VET, we ensure that sustainability becomes both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity. Our work in urban transformation builds on the legacy of Ark Metropolis by applying participatory methods to new contexts. Projects such as the transformation of underused courtyards into urban permaculture gardens illustrate how ecological design, education, and citizen engagement can strengthen resilience and social inclusion while directly improving urban living environments. BVNG is also active internationally. With partners across Europe and Africa, we develop training concepts, sectoral platforms, and cross-border initiatives that advance sustainable skills and circular economy practices. At the same time, we maintain strong connections to Africa, where we collaborate with organizations and smallholder networks on climate justice, carbon farming, and sustainable value chains. These links highlight our conviction that sustainability is both local and global, requiring cooperation across regions and continents. Our work rests on three pillars: Education & Skills – advancing VET for sustainable development, strengthening transformation competencies, and enabling SMEs to adapt to change., Circular Economy – embedding resource efficiency, closed-loop systems, and sector-specific innovations for sustainable value creation., Urban Transformation – piloting urban permaculture, revitalizing underused spaces, and promoting citizen participation in greener cities. Our strength lies in holistic, cross-sectoral approaches: linking SMEs with municipalities, education providers, and civil society to ensure that transformation is ecologically meaningful, socially inclusive, and economically viable. For the DUT Partnership, we seek collaboration with municipalities, research institutions, and industry partners to design and scale systemic approaches to sustainable urban development. We are particularly interested in initiatives that integrate urban greening, citizen engagement, SME transformation, and Circular Economy innovation — creating practical solutions that can grow into blueprints for greener, more resilient cities worldwide.