Transformation Needs Speed and Strong Alliances: The Otto Group at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference
Two days, one shared ambition: to move into action faster! But how can sustainable transformation succeed when crises, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty increase the pressure? Around 1,600 decision-makers from 115 countries came together on June 29 and 30, 2026, for the third Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) – among them Prof. Dr. Michael Otto and Petra Scharner-Wolff, CEO of the Otto Group, as well as other board members of the Executive Board. The central message of the conference was clear: to tackle the global challenges of our time, partnerships must be strengthened, and good ideas translated into concrete solutions more quickly. Change requires more than words – it needs reliable frameworks, targeted investments, and the will to implement.
Alliances for Greater Impact
In around 80 sessions and side events at Hamburg City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce, the focus was on the conditions without which progress is difficult to achieve: strong partnerships, reliable political guardrails, and solutions that combine ecological ambition with economic viability. The conference was opened by German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – with an appeal that set the tone for the days that followed: "Do not let up in your commitment to making the world a better place!"
The Otto Group was once again actively represented at the HSC – as a company that has understood responsible business as part of its corporate culture for decades and that actively drives dialogue on effective solutions with partners from politics, business, science, and civil society.
The HSC was launched in 2024 by the Michael Otto Foundation together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. For Prof. Dr. Michael Otto, the idea from the outset was to create a forum for international exchange and mutual understanding. Especially in view of the global challenges, there is a need for more speed in implementation and a stronger focus on translating good ideas into scalable solutions.
Around the world, we have excellent ideas, technological expertise, and entrepreneurial momentum. This shows that progress is possible. Implementation often remains the greatest obstacle: We need to act faster and more decisively.
Several HSC sessions in which Petra Scharner-Wolff played an active role showed what this ambition looks like in practice. The focus was on topics that are crucial for the future of the economy: geopolitical shifts and their implications for European companies, Europe's contribution to a global transformation in the textile sector, and the role of women in shaping AI transformation.
For the CEO of the Otto Group, one thing became particularly clear: progress happens when we bring together different perspectives and focus on concrete solutions.
The circular economy will not be perfect tomorrow. But waiting for perfect solutions is not an option. We learn by doing, improve along the way, and scale what works.
The “Circular Textiles” session organized by the Otto Group demonstrated just how demanding – and how important – collaboration along the entire value chain is. It made clear that the transition to a circular textile economy can only succeed if different stakeholders work together on practical and scalable solutions. For Prof. Dr. Tobias Wollermann, VP Corporate Responsibility of the Otto Group, this exchange is precisely what makes the conference so valuable.
The HSC addresses challenges that we cannot solve alone – from climate protection to human rights. This requires strong partnerships with business, politics, and civil society to advance effective solutions.
Once again, the conference provided an international framework for exchange and collaboration – while also showing how tangible collaboration can become: it mobilized investments, launched new initiatives, and further developed action plans to address current crises. In doing so, the HSC strengthens its role as a global platform for exchange, trust, and joint solutions. Or, as Prof. Dr. Michael Otto put it:
The collaboration among committed stakeholders from business, society, and politics around the world was further strengthened at HSC 2026. I am impressed by the expertise and determination with which concrete progress is being pursued here – for example in the field of circular economy. We can build on this. What matters now is to seize this momentum and move swiftly into implementation.
© Fotocredit: Hamburg Sustainability Conference
