Astrid Arens, Christof Lützel

GLS Bank – Gemeinschaft für Leihen und Schenken (community for lending and giving) – has been Germany’s first social-ecological bank since 1974. They finance sustainable companies instead of speculating on financial markets and are a cooperative bank. Because they love to do things together.

The Golden Planet Award 2024 was accepted by Mr. Christof Lützel, authorized signatory of GLS Bank and head of the press department for 21 years. GLS Bank received the award for its economic, ecological and social responsibility.

According to Mr. Lützel: “Our economic profit is the result of our actions and not the purpose. It is important for us to create an awareness of the effective use of money.”

GLS Bank is one of the leading sustainable banks in Germany and is strongly committed to sustainability in several areas. Here are the most important points of its commitment:

1. Ecological sustainability:

GLS Bank attaches great importance to environmental protection and invests exclusively in projects that meet ecological standards. It primarily finances renewable energies, such as wind, solar and hydropower projects, and is committed to energy efficiency. The bank also promotes sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

2. Social equity:

The bank supports projects that promote social equity and the strengthening of civil society. These include educational projects, the promotion of culture and social institutions such as inclusion projects for people with disabilities. It attaches particular importance to financing projects that serve the common good and support socially disadvantaged people.

3. Transparency:

A unique selling point of GLS Bank is its comprehensive transparency. It publishes details of the projects into which customer funds flow, making it clear what impact the investments have in the social and ecological field. This disclosure creates trust and enables customers to see exactly how their deposits support sustainable initiatives.

4. Fair financial sector:

GLS Bank sees itself as part of a movement for a fair and ethical financial sector. It rejects investments in controversial industries such as fossil fuels, nuclear power and armaments. Instead, it focuses on ethical and sustainable investments that achieve positive social and ecological effects in the long term.

5. Circular economy and ethical investing:

Another focus of GLS Bank is on the circular economy and ethical investing. It finances companies that focus on conserving resources and avoiding waste, and offers sustainable investment opportunities for its customers with a clear focus on environmental and social criteria.

Overall, GLS Bank is characterized by its consistent focus on sustainability, transparency and social justice. It is a pioneer in the promotion of green projects and fair business practices.