Bertelsmann’s Group IT Sourcing department has presented its fourth annual “Eco Innovation Award” for strategic IT suppliers. The award recognizes innovative ESG initiatives (Environmental, Social, Governance) that have already been successfully put into practice. This year’s theme – “Walk the Talk!” – focused on projects with demonstrated impact, tangible implementation, and measurable results. The winner of the “Eco Innovation Award 2026” is IT infrastructure and services provider Computacenter.
Projects with demonstrated impact
From among the strategic partners who submitted applications, Computacenter, Experis, and AWS were chosen as the three finalists. The selection was based on standardized evaluation criteria, regardless of company size or location. The finalists then presented their projects to the IT Sourcing Alliance, a cross-functional committee of IT procurement experts at Bertelsmann. The evaluation focused primarily on sustainability impact, scalability, measurable results, and the projects’ actual implementation status.
The award ceremony was held on May 12 at the Corporate Center in Gütersloh. This year’s theme – “Walk the Talk!” – deliberately focused on projects that not only take a strategic approach to sustainability, but have already been embedded into day-to-day business operations and whose impact can be clearly demonstrated.
‘Pragmatic and impact-driven approach’
The “Circular Services” initiative submitted by Computacenter shows how circular economy principles can be successfully integrated into day-to-day IT operations. The project focuses on the sustainable reuse and refurbishment of IT hardware to significantly extend device life cycles and conserve resources. Through structured return, redeployment, remarketing, and recycling processes, functioning equipment remains in use for longer, reducing electronic waste while delivering measurable savings in both CO2 emissions and materials.
“Computacenter clearly demonstrated how sustainable transformation can be successfully implemented through practical measures and measurable results,” said Achim Bernsmann, Category Manager in Bertelsmann’s Group IT Sourcing department. “This pragmatic, impact-driven approach was at the heart of this year’s award theme, ‘Walk the Talk!’”
Helping Bertelsmann meet its sustainability goals
The initiative shows how sustainability can create long-term value – both environmentally and economically – while making circular economy principles part of existing IT processes.
“Our Circular Services deliver measurable ESG impact based on clear KPIs and verifiable data,” said Hanns Matus, Client Director at Computacenter. “They help customers like Bertelsmann meet their sustainability goals in a transparent, sustainable, and compliant way. Receiving the Eco Innovation Award 2026 for this work makes us especially proud.”
