Hanau Sustainability Award Celebrates 10 Years with €9,000 Prizes and New Categories

The Hanau Sustainability Award is marking its 10th anniversary with €9,000 in prize money and a refreshed format. Organisers have updated the award categories, simplified the application process, and moved submissions fully online. This year's edition continues to support projects aligned with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition now features four distinct categories. 'Environment and Nature' and 'Democracy and Social Cohesion' focus on completed projects, with winners selected by public vote. The 'Ideas and Innovation' category, meanwhile, recognises proposals that need funding to get off the ground. A new 'Garden and Balcony' section invites private individuals to showcase nature-friendly spaces that boost local biodiversity.

Applications are open to schools, daycare centres, associations, businesses, families, and individuals. Submissions must be made through the updated digital platform by Sunday, May 3, 2026. The award ceremony will follow on Monday, June 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Congress Park Hanau. Funding for the prize comes from the city of Hanau, Umicore AG & Co. KG, and Sparkasse Hanau. Past winners include Heraeus Precious Metals, which took home the 2023 award for its biodiversity project in the Kinzigauen meadows. The initiative created a barrier-free nature trail focused on bumblebee conservation, demonstrating clear local sustainability benefits. The revamped website and streamlined process aim to encourage broader participation. All entries must demonstrate a direct link to at least one of the UN's SDGs, ensuring projects contribute to wider global sustainability targets.

The 10th Hanau Sustainability Award offers €9,000 across four categories, with a public vote deciding some winners. The deadline for digital submissions is May 3, 2026, and the ceremony will take place the following month. Successful projects will need to show measurable impacts on sustainability, whether through completed work or innovative proposals.