Overall Description

This funding topic supports the development, design and adoption of environmentally friendly consumer products. Its objective is to reduce resource consumption and environmental impacts throughout the entire product life cycle—from production and use to reuse, recycling and end-of-life treatment.

The programme focuses particularly on durable consumer goods such as furniture, electronics, household appliances, textiles, vehicles and toys. It also supports new business models, digital production methods and educational measures that increase the acceptance and use of sustainable products.

Funding Amount

• Typical DBU funding per project: €100,000–€400,000, excluding the applicant’s own contribution.
• Maximum per project: No fixed maximum; funding is determined individually.
• Funding instrument: Earmarked, non-repayable grant.
• Co-financing: Applicants must generally provide and document an own contribution.
• Indicative funding rate: Cost-based funding is usually approximately 50%.
  • Companies generally contribute 75% of development-related project costs and 50% of research-related project costs. More favourable rates may apply to SMEs and cooperation projects.
• Grants up to €175,000 are approved by the DBU Secretary General. Larger grants require additional assessment and approval by the DBU Board of Trustees.

Submission Deadlines

• Deadline: No fixed deadline; project outlines and applications may be submitted at any time.
• Early submission is recommended because funding is competitive.
• Indicative assessment period: approximately four to six months for complete, high-quality submissions not requiring additional clarification or external review.

Submission Conditions

• Applications normally follow a two-stage procedure:
  1. Submission of a project outline through the DBU online portal, normally 3–10 pages.
  2. Submission of a complete funding application, normally around 20 pages, following an invitation from DBU.
• Applications and project reports must generally be submitted in German.
• Projects must be innovative, exemplary, environmentally beneficial and economically viable.
• Projects should demonstrate practical implementation and transfer potential.
• Projects must not begin before DBU approval unless early commencement has been expressly authorised.
• Applicants must generally provide an own contribution and document total project expenditure.
• Cooperation projects require a joint application and a separate cost plan for each partner.
• Typical project duration is 18–36 months; longer projects are considered only in justified exceptional cases.
• Applicants must comply with DBU funding guidelines and applicable EU State aid rules.
• Pure basic research, pure investment projects and projects limited to the market launch of finished products are not eligible.
• Studies without a concrete implementation perspective and projects already started are also excluded.

Eligible Types of Businesses

Funding is generally available to legal entities, including:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises – given particular consideration.
• Other companies.
• Product manufacturers and technology developers.
• Universities and higher-education institutions.
• Scientific and research institutions.
• Associations and non-profit organisations.
• Municipalities and other local authorities.
• Educational and civil-society organisations.
• Other legally constituted organisations.

Natural persons and state institutions may be supported in individual cases following a separate assessment.

Eligible Countries

• Primary eligible country:
  • Germany
• International projects:
  • Limited funding is available for international projects, primarily in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
  • Projects outside these regions may be considered individually.
  • International projects must primarily be implemented abroad and substantially involve local partners.
  • DBU particularly supports cooperation between a German applicant and local international partners.