2023 Hanau Sustainability Award – Umicore Presents the Jury Prize

For the seventh consecutive year, the City of Hanau’s 2023 Sustainability Award was presented on June 26, 2023, at the Amphitheater in Hanau. Citizens, companies, organizations, schools, and initiatives were eligible to apply for a prize of 9,000 euros across four categories. A total of 28 projects were submitted.

Umicore provided prize money totaling 6,000 euros for the jury prize. And as in previous years, the entire jury found it difficult to choose between the projects. For many participants, the prize money serves as the starting point for bringing their ideas to life.

Third place, with a prize of 1,000 euros, went to the “Worm Compost” project by Elias Kolbe from the AJOKI Campus in Hanau. Elias Kolbe wants to set up worm bins on the AJOKI Campus terrace to compost the organic waste generated in the café. This is a great example of a closed-loop system. This is accompanied by an educational concept serving as the basis for cooperation with neighboring schools and educational partners of the AJOKI Campus.

Rita Ebel, “The Lego Grandma of Hanau,” was delighted to win second place and a prize of 2,000 euros for her idea of a change of perspective on four wheels. With her idea, she aims to raise awareness among people without disabilities and sensitize them to the issue of accessibility. To this end, she plans to organize wheelchair tours through Hanau for people without disabilities, visiting interesting locations and exploring various topics such as using public transportation, relaxing in the park, using restrooms or changing rooms, or even shopping.

First place, with prize money of 3,000 euros, was awarded to Eva Bollandt-Ditzen from Sprachsalon – Enjoy words! and the Otto-Hahn-Schule Hanau for their joint project, the initiative “Fairy Tales Create the Future – A Children’s and Youth Theater Project.” This is a multicultural theater project for schools and youth groups that addresses issues of equality, diversity, and peaceful coexistence in everyday life to promote a democratic understanding. 

“When we launched the Sustainability Award together in 2017, our goal was to make Hanau and the surrounding region even more sustainable. After all, sustainability plays a significant role at Umicore as well. At our Hanau site, we have been committed to making a significant contribution to clean mobility and sustainable technologies for 20 years. Together with our employees and institutions in Hanau, we have already achieved a great deal for Hanau and the region. And it makes me proud to see what the award winners hope to set in motion to fulfill our responsibility to current and future generations.”

Dr. Bernhard Fuchs, CEO Umicore AG & Co. KG