"The cooperation with the THM was a great added value for us to combine the bundled energy of the students with practical experiences and projects from the sports world," said Miranda Wilson, founder of the BadmintONEarth climate initiative.
Working under the "Social Entrepreneurship" course led by Prof. Dr. Manuela Weller, the students evaluated the practicality and impact of these guidelines across various tournament sizes and within the context of volunteer club work.
THM students propose low-threshold sustainability criteria
The student analysis focused on ensuring that sustainable measures are easy to implement and do not create additional financial burdens for organizers. Based on feedback from clubs and approaches used in other countries, the students proposed several enhancements to the DBV’s current guidelines.
Their recommendations include the establishment of clear minimum criteria and the integration of best-practice elements. The students also suggested the creation of a multi-stage eco-label for badminton tournaments to make sustainable commitment visible.
BadmintONEarth partners with the German Badminton Association
BadmintONEarth, founded in 2021, describes itself as the first climate and recycling project in German badminton. The initiative operates in close cooperation with the DBV and supports organizers of professional badminton competitions in making them sustainable, alongside material recycling.
The initiative includes professional badminton player Miranda Wilson and badminton Olympian Kai Schäfer. These practitioners provided the THM students with the necessary industry knowledge and feedback to ensure their academic analysis translated into viable sports-world applications.
Social Entrepreneurship integrated into business curriculum
Prof. Dr. Manuela Weller regularly integrates external network partners into her courses to allow students to apply acquired knowledge practically at an early stage.
By using BadmintONEarth as a concrete case study, students tested how social entrepreneurship functions in practice. The goal of the program is to develop solutions that extend beyond the seminar room.
Tournament sustainability specifics
| Proposed Measure | Intended Impact |
|---|---|
| Multi-stage Eco-Label | Makes sustainable engagement visible |
| Minimum Criteria | Ensures a baseline of sustainability across events |
| Low-threshold Implementation | Prevents additional financial burden |
| Best-Practice Integration | Incorporates successful elements |
Badminton sustainability questions
How does BadmintONEarth support tournament organizers?
The initiative supports organizers of professional badminton competitions in making them sustainable, alongside material recycling.
Who is behind the BadmintONEarth initiative?
The climate initiative includes badminton professional Miranda Wilson and badminton Olympian Kai Schäfer.
What was the primary goal of the THM student project?
Students analyzed the DBV’s sustainability guideline for practicality and impact, especially with regard to smaller and large tournaments as well as the reality of voluntary club work.
The suggestions developed by the students will now be integrated into the collaboration between BadmintONEarth and the DBV.
