The paper deals with the importance of education and awareness raising in the context of sustainability, especially in relation to the role of engineering in solving current problems such as population growth, global inequality and climate change. Education for sustainable development plays a key role in promoting sustainable thinking in society and that universities and higher education institutions are fundamental institutions to achieve the SDGs. Therefore, linking technical and sustainability-oriented topics in the curriculum is essential to prepare future engineers for their role as change agents. Within the framework of a design-based research approach, the aim of this paper is to provide a best practice example of an innovative teaching concept that closes this gap and presents a theory-based teaching example for sustainable engineering education. Central questions are, on the one hand, to what extent sustainability topics are currently anchored in engineering courses in Germany. In addition, the question is addressed as to what a subject didactic concept in the engineering sciences can look like under the current conditions that takes up sustainability topics and stimulates an increase in the ecological and sustainable awareness of students. The article gives an overview of the structure and the most important components of the module. The insights gained are intended to contribute to the evidence-based implementation of sustainability in engineering and thus fill a gap in engineering teaching practice and engineering education research.