Public recognition of entrepreneurial achievements
An entrepreneur award with a long tradition
The Upper Lusatian Entrepreneur Award, known as the OLUP, is an award presented annually by the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz to three companies in Upper Lusatia. Particularly committed, successful and socially active entrepreneurs have been honored with this award since 1996. And it is not only the fact that it has been awarded for so many years that speaks for the importance of this award!
Jury with technical expertise
Before an award can be presented, a jury appointed by the districts meets. The jury is made up of IHK Dresden, HWK Dresden, Agentur für Arbeit Bautzen, Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH and Marketing-Gesellschaft Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien mbH. If appropriate, the jury will be expanded to include at least one specialist expert from .
Recognition for the award winners
The three equal prize winners receive a trophy, a certificate and official and public recognition of their entrepreneurial achievements, donated by the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz. Public interest and increased press inquiries are cited by the previous winners as positive effects of the award.
Invitation to tender
Sustainable entrepreneurial action
Awareness of the need for greater sustainability in our society has increased significantly, as the challenges of recent years have shown how important sustainable development and sustainable corporate action are for companies and society. For this reason, this year's motto is once again focused on the topic of sustainability.
Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in Upper Lusatia and is playing an ever more central role in the economy and society. The impact of climate change, shortages of personnel and resources and rising prices are forcing companies to consistently rethink their approach and are increasing the pressure to implement sustainable action in all areas of the company.
With the call for entries for the 28th Upper Lusatian Entrepreneur Award 2023, the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz are looking for entrepreneurs who are addressing the issue of sustainability with long-term positive changes and special commitment. These companies are characterized, for example, by their focus on digitalization and new technologies, their emphasis on sustainability along the entire supply chain and their active commitment to sustainable solutions in the medium and long term and their assumption of responsibility for the environment and society.
Commitment to sustainable corporate action is rewarded
The districts of Görlitz and Bautzen are once again honoring outstanding companies in the region with the 28th Upper Lusatian Entrepreneur Award 2023 and highlighting the successful and social work of the Upper Lusatian economy as a whole. The motto of this year's award was "Sustainable entrepreneurial action" and was chosen because awareness of sustainability has increased significantly in our society.
By September 17, 2023 received 30 nominations for 29 entrepreneurs from Upper Lusatia. On 26 September , a cross-industry jury selected this year's three award winners, who are dedicated to the topic of sustainability with courage, open-mindedness and a willingness to put things into practice.
On October 25, 2023, the district administrator Dr. Stephan Meyer and deputy Dr. Romy Reinisch presented the certificates and trophies and thanked them for their work and commitment to this important topic. The award ceremony took place during the 1st Oberlausitzer Wirtschftsgipfel in the Burgtheater Bautzen.
The 2023 award winners are:
Robert Gey - Charlotte Meentzen Kräutervital Kosmetik GmbH
Dipl. Ing. (FH) Susann Mütze - Tischlerei Mütze GmbH
Engineer Armin Kittner - Pond management Petershain
Joinery Mütze GmbH
Susann Mütze is the seventh generation to run a 200-year-old family business in Kamenz and, as a mother of two, manages the daily balancing act between work and family. The company manufactures classic wooden furniture as well as modern designs and robust surfaces and is constantly winning new customers thanks to its focus on quality. The focus is on quality, dimensional accuracy and individuality. The company operates a photovoltaic system and uses the electricity for its own furniture production. The furniture produced is designed for a long service life, material waste is reduced to a minimum and resources are used sparingly. The joinery supports various associations and is a member of the Saxon Environmental and Climate Alliance.
Charlotte Meentzen Kräutervital Kosmetik GmbH
The company was founded in 1930 by two women in Dresden as the "Institute for Natural Cosmetics" and has been based in Radeberg since 2002. Charlotte Meentzen stands for natural cosmetics that rely on a value chain "Made in Germany" and in which plant-based ingredients are at the heart of the products. Sustainability encompasses ecological as well as social and economic responsibility: the company has had an environmental management system since 2015 and all products are free from mineral oil, silicone and PEG. The air cushion packaging used is made from 100% recycled paper and environmentally friendly gift packaging made from recyclable cardboard is used. The parcels are sent to customers and partners via climate-neutral DHL go green shipping, with 94% of suppliers based in Germany. The company wants to adapt its way of working to meet the 1.5-degree target and is saving 3.5 tons of paper a year thanks to its constantly expanding digitalization and relies on electricity from renewable sources. The first water-free products without plastic packaging were launched last year. A photovoltaic system was installed in 2023. The company supports Sonnenstrahl e. V. in Dresden, which cares for children and young people with cancer and works in workshops for the disabled.
Petershain pond management
Teichwirtschaft Petershain has been operating since 1991 and is a competent partner for fish farming, Europe-wide fish trade and fish transportation. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable and ecological fish farming to ensure the quality, freshness and optimum condition of the wide range of fish species. In addition, the company, with its qualified staff and modern machinery, is an experienced expert in the restoration of ponds and fishing facilities. In this context, the fish farm is committed to the sustainable implementation of water projects, is active in nature conservation projects throughout Europe and works closely with nature conservation authorities.
The fish farm is committed to the regional development of rural areas and represents the interests of pond farmers as a fishing partner.
Regionality, a sense of tradition and expertise are keywords that characterize Teichwirtschaft Petershain. With many years of expertise in fish farming of high-quality and fresh fish, an exclusive home-bred carp variety and a wide range of stocked and edible fish, Teichwirtschaft Petershain not only stands for unique diversity, but above all for sustainability and future viability of regional small-scale fishing.
