20th anniversary: Hans Roth Environmental Prize goes to BOKU Vienna

Graduates from Montanuni Leoben, Graz University of Technology, Vienna University of Technology and the University for Continuing Education Krems were also honoured for their work at the Old University of Graz. As a special surprise for the anniversary, the celebration was held together with winners from the past 20 years.

Data as the key: securing raw materials, avoiding pollutants

Rapid technological development has brought more and more electronic products onto the market in recent years. This has also led to an increase in the amount of electronic waste. According to the European Commission, around 5 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment will end up in landfills in the EU in 2022. However, printed circuit boards and plastics in particular contain valuable metals such as copper, gold and silver. At the same time, they also contain pollutants such as lead and arsenic, which can harm the environment and human health if disposed of improperly. A precise analysis of the material composition is crucial in order to recover raw materials efficiently and minimise risks. A reliable database forms the basis for this. Aleksander Jandric, a graduate and research assistant at BOKU Vienna, has developed a fast and cost-effective method for the precise determination of ingredients as part of his dissertation. The method uses modern portable X-ray technology that has been calibrated to perform precise, laboratory-quality analyses. With his work, Jandric is making a significant contribution to the protection of scarce resources, the environment and health – and this is already the second time: in 2018, the scientist was awarded the Hans Roth Environmental Prize for his master’s thesis.

Circular economy creates solutions

This is also demonstrated by the work of the four other award-winning graduates. The topics cover textile recycling, specifically challenges in the automated, near-infrared-based sorting of old textiles due to buttons or zips, the thermal treatment of mineral wool waste and steel slag as a cement substitute, the assessment of the recyclability of mobile phones, and the effects of the EU Taxonomy Regulation on the management of a Gründerzeit tenement building in Graz. Environment Minister Simone Schmiedtbauer, Member of the National Council Markus Leinfellner, Environment Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Graz Judith Schwentner, and Economic Councillor Kurt Hohensinner presented the awards to the winners together with prize donor and Saubermacher founder Hans Roth in the presence of numerous other guests of honour. The main prize of €4,000 went to Aleksander Jandric from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. Hanna Kobald from the Montanuniversität Leoben, Clemens Bendler from Graz University of Technology, Clara Neuendorf from Vienna University of Technology and Markus Schlacher from the University for Continuing Education Krems were also delighted to receive awards of €2,200 each.

Winners from 20 years of the Hans Roth Environmental Award congratulated

This year, the Hans Roth Environmental Award was presented to outstanding scientists for the 20th time. As a special surprise, former winners from previous years also gathered at the Old University. From ‘Innovative application and recycling potential of paint residue powders’ to ‘Analysis of the sources of copper deposits in track ballast’ – the submitted works impressively illustrate the scientific diversity and high standards of research achievements in the field of circular economy in Austria. All contributions were documented in a chronicle in honour of the prize founder and Saubermacher founder Hans Roth. The book ‘What became of – 20 years of the Hans Roth Environmental Award’, which also profiles the careers of the winners, was ceremoniously presented to the Styrian pioneer during the award ceremony. Together, all the winners of the Environmental Award represent concentrated innovative strength in the sector of sustainability and the circular economy.

Simone Schmiedtbauer, Regional Minister for the Environment: “The award-winning projects impressively demonstrate how research and innovation contribute to securing valuable resources and reducing environmental pollution. Especially in times of growing raw material scarcity, we need people who use creativity and scientific excellence to work on solutions for a sustainable future. The Hans Roth Environmental Award sends a strong signal for a circular economy in practice and a Styrian worth living in.‘

Markus Leinfellner, Member of the National Council: ’Every year, the Hans Roth Environmental Award demonstrates the innovative strength and commitment that exists in domestic research. Young people in particular are making an indispensable and valuable contribution to a resource-efficient future with their creative approaches and projects. They prove that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. Investing in the circular economy, environmental technology and waste prevention today secures the quality of life and prosperity of tomorrow. I warmly congratulate all the award winners on their outstanding achievements and thank them for their contribution to a clean future.”

Judith Schwentner, City Councillor for the Environment and Deputy Mayor of Graz: “For two decades now, the Hans Roth Environmental Award has been sending a strong signal for sustainability and the circular economy. The award impressively demonstrates that waste is not rubbish, but a valuable resource – an approach to which the city of Graz is also committed. Anyone who is so committed to our environment deserves to be recognised and honoured. I would like to thank the initiator, Hans Roth, for his generous, long-standing commitment and am delighted to be able to present this award. I would like to congratulate this year’s winners, whose outstanding achievements make a real contribution to our environment.‘

Kurt Hohensinner, Councillor for Economic Affairs: ’The Hans Roth Environmental Award impressively demonstrates how scientific innovation contributes to solving key issues for the future. Sustainable technologies and the circular economy are particularly crucial for Graz as a business location in order to enable new value creation. As City Councillor for Economic Affairs, I want to promote future-oriented projects with economic strength. They secure resources, strengthen Graz as an economic hub and also our social and ecological responsibility, so that our city remains a liveable place for future generations and can shape its own future.”

Hans Roth, Saubermacher founder and sponsor of the award: “I am deeply moved to be able to honour outstanding scientists today and at the same time to see former award winners again who have continued on their path with such commitment. The passion and inventiveness with which these talented researchers devote themselves to the challenges of our time is remarkable. Their work makes an important contribution to society. My sincere thanks go to all the award winners, our guests of honour and partners. Together, we promote dialogue between science, the (circular) economy and technology, because this is precisely where the solutions for a future-proof tomorrow come from. The 20th anniversary of the Hans Roth Environmental Award symbolises what has always distinguished Saubermacher: promoting dialogue, driving innovation and taking responsibility for an environment worth living in.”

About the Hans Roth Environmental Award

The Hans Roth Environmental Award has been presented annually to universities in Austria and Slovenia since 2005. The aim is to promote waste and recycling management and reduce harmful emissions. The focus is on fresh ideas, innovative solutions and their practical applicability. The transfer of knowledge between research and industry plays a central role in this. The organisation is in the hands of Saubermacher CEO Ralf Mittermayr and Head of Research and Development Astrid Arnberger. An independent jury of experts from science, business and public administration selected the winners in October 2025: Professor Helmut Rechberger/TU Vienna, Dipl.-Ing. Rainer Altmann/University for Continuing Education Krems, Professor Marion Huber-Humer/BOKU Vienna, Professor Roland Pomberger/Montanuniversität Leoben, Vice-Rector Michael Monsberger/TU Graz, Gerald Brantner/Billa AG, Thomas Eck/ARA, Josephine Müller/voestalpine, Peter Giffinger/Saint-Gobain Austria GmbH, Julia Scheiber/Austrian Association of Municipalities, Rainer Kronberger/Magistrate of the City of Vienna, Christian Holzer/BMK. Supported by Saubermacher founder Hans Roth, CEO Ralf Mittermayr, Head of R&D Astrid Arnberger, Austria Managing Director Gerhard Hecker and Stephan Roth.

The winners at a glance:

Winner of the Hans Roth Environmental Award for Austria (main prize)

Aleksander Jandric/University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) with his dissertation ‘Development of a fast and reliable analysis method to improve the recycling potential of complex materials’

This work deals with the development of a new, fast and cost-effective analysis method for determining the material composition of complex waste such as printed circuit boards and plastics. A portable device based on modern X-ray technology is used, which achieves laboratory-quality measurement accuracy thanks to ‘post-hoc calibration’. This allows valuable metals to be recycled more efficiently and harmful substances to be detected more quickly.

Winner of the Hans Roth Environmental Award, Montanuniversität Leoben

Hanna Kobald/MUL with her master’s thesis ‘Clothing accessories from old textiles in automated NIR sorting’

This thesis highlights challenges in the automated sorting of old textiles. The focus is on clothing accessories such as buttons, fasteners and prints, which can only be detected to a limited extent in near-infrared-based sorting systems. They impair the purity of textile material flows. The frequency of various accessories in different garments and the reliability of identification were investigated. The results will be incorporated into the optimisation of future recycling processes.

Winner of the Hans Roth Environmental Award Graz University of Technology

Clemens Bendler/Graz University of Technology with his master’s thesis ‘Effect of thermally treated residues as cement additives on carbonation and sulphate resistance’

This thesis examines thermally treated mineral wool waste and steel slag as cement substitutes. The materials show properties comparable to those of granulated blast furnace slag. The aim is to find an alternative to granulated blast furnace slag in view of the shortage expected in the future. In addition, suitable recycling techniques for mineral wool are to be developed.

Winner of the Hans Roth Environmental Award Vienna University of Technology

Clara Neuendorf/Vienna University of Technology with her thesis ‘Assessment of the recyclability of mobile phones’

Against the backdrop of growing raw material scarcity, the thesis examines the recyclability of mobile phones. Using an assessment approach based on statistical entropy – a measure of how strongly materials are mixed in a product and how easily they can be separated – it shows how recyclable product design facilitates the recovery of valuable raw materials and conserves resources.

Winner of the Hans Roth Environmental Award University for Continuing Education Krems

Markus Schlacher/University for Continuing Education Krems with his master’s thesis ‘The Impact of the EU Taxonomy Regulation on the Management of Residential Properties Using the Example of a Gründerzeit Apartment Building in Graz’

The thesis examines the impact of the EU Taxonomy Regulation on the management of a Gründerzeit apartment building in Graz. As part of a case study, two scenarios – taxonomy-compliant renovation versus conventional maintenance – are compared in economic terms. The conclusion: sustainable renovation is more profitable in the long term and significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.