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Foundations
Why did you create your foundations?
I am firmly convinced that every one of us should make a contribution to society, within their means. Only then can it be vital and viable. Property brings with in a particular obligation. And gratitude that society has given you the opportunity for successful development.
It's really important to me not just to ‘do good’ as part of my foundations. Alongside implementing individual projects, I also want to raise people’s awareness for particular topics. Each and every one of us has to make our contribution to preserve our world for future generations.
How important in general is the work of foundations? How can they be more effective?
Foundations are independent. They alone are committed to fulfilling the purpose of the foundation and upholding its values. Because they should be fundamentally neutral, they have the opportunity to promote dialog between different, even opposing stakeholders and to bring people together for whatever specific purpose is called for. This is a great opportunity to work in a collaborative, integrative and participative fashion. Of course, part of the effectiveness of a foundation's activities also includes good and goal-oriented management.
How far are you involved in the work of the foundations?
Foundation work genuinely enriches me, so that I gladly contribute the time that is needed. This has also been easier for me since I have given up my positions in the Otto Group and withdrawn from the operational side of the Otto Group. I actively support the foundations’ projects and attend their meetings.
How is the work of the foundations financed?
By an annual inflow of money that I make available. In addition, we receive public funding as well as money from other private partners − in the case of the Aid by Trade Foundation through cotton companies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for instance.
In 1993, you first founded the Michael Otto Environmental Foundation. This is dedicated to protecting water as the basis of life. What were your motives behind establishing it?
The purpose of the Michael Otto Environmental Foundation is to support the protection and preservation of water as the basis of life and to address major conflicts concerning land and water use. Water is a resource that is becoming scarcer. The needs of people and nature meet in equal measure. This is something I experienced quite strikingly during a trip to Africa. The gnus that populate the savannah in their thousands during their migration, can actually delay the timing of giving birth and wait until the rain comes. Once the savannah does become green, it is filled at the same time with thousands of gnu calves: an impressive image with great symbolism: water is life!
The foundation is now working on its own operational projects. What exactly does that mean?
The foundation addresses the central challenges of ecological restructuring in Germany – in particular the major conflicts concerning land and water use. Ultimately, these will determine whether the primary environmental crises of our time – the loss of biodiversity, climate change with all its consequences and the pollution of air, land and water – can be overcome. It builds bridges between business, science, politics and nature conservation to develop innovative solutions. The approach combines dialog and model projects and activates political and social stakeholders to bring about systemic change. With over 30 years of experience as a foundation and with close ties to the business world, it is a competent mediator that is aware of the interests of the stakeholders involved and is capable of creating solutions beneficial to all sides.
The AQUA AGENTS educational program is aimed at children in 3rd and 4th grade. How important is it, in your opinion, to raise awareness among children and young people for such topics?
Young people are the decision-makers of tomorrow. Raising their awareness deserves our special attention. The AQUA AGENTS serve to inspire children to act sustainably drawing on water as a resource as an example. The goal is to become aware of the importance of water for nature, for us humans and for the economy and to motivate them to change their behavior. My foundation supports this innovative educational program to create awareness of sustainability for the next generation and hopefully to enable long-term systemic changes in society.
In 2005, you established a new foundation, which is now the Aid by Trade Foundation. What exactly are its goals and what were your motivations?
The foundation promotes the sustainable production of textile raw materials in Africa and Asia. The foundation’s projects are intended to create the environmental, social, and economic framework conditions necessary for the production, finishing and sale of these products. The projects’ philosophy is that trade can contribute towards fighting poverty. The foundation has also been tasked with bundling demand from industrialized countries for sustainable products. The goal is for retail companies, together with consumers and manufacturers, to trigger permanently effective improvement impetus through a targeted Demand Alliance. This innovative approach is orientated toward the market and aims to become financially self-sufficient in the long term.
The Cotton made in Africa initiative is one of the most important global initiatives for sustainable cotton and is supported by your foundation. What is the goal of the initiative?
The initiative stands for my conviction and core attitude. Every one of us can take on responsibility within our own capabilities. For me, that means helping people to help themselves. As part of the Cotton made in Africa initiative, the Aid by Trade Foundation – together with industry, the German Federal government and non-governmental organizations – is looking to promote the socially and ecologically sustainable cultivation of African cotton, to create better and more reliable sales opportunities for African raw materials and to fight poverty in the cotton-growing regions of Africa by targeting demand. The license fees for Cotton made in Africa cotton are used to finance training for small cotton farmers, the construction of schools and health stations, women's projects and other social and educational projects. What particularly excites me about the initiative is that not only do the farmers benefit from it, but also their families too. In many ways. The farmers’ children therefore have the opportunity to go to school instead of working in the fields. Another focus of the project is on nature conservation and the preservation of biodiversity. Some 800,000 smallholder cotton farmers in ten African countries receive training and the opportunity to improve their cultivation methods and yields.