A total of nine categories - from trade and agriculture to tourism - showcase the diversity of ideas that characterise Upper Austria. The prize is awarded by the weekly newspaper "Mein Bezirk" and has long since established itself as a platform on which regional "hidden champions" step into the limelight.
Zellinger: Winner in the Mobility & Renewable Energy category
Zellinger GmbH from Walding particularly stood out this year. The family business, which has been active in the field of sustainable recycling management for 70 years, won in the Mobility & Renewable Energy category. With the project "Rethinking the circular economy - energy self-sufficient waste disposal for Upper Austria", Zellinger has succeeded in combining classic waste disposal logistics with innovative energy generation.
The focus is on the intelligent utilisation of biogenic waste: The company's own biogas plant generates enough electricity and heat to make the site in Feldkirchen an der Donau/Herzogsdorf completely energy self-sufficient and also supply more than 1,000 households. Additional energy is supplied by large-scale photovoltaic systems.
A milestone was reached in 2025 with the commissioning of four fully electric collection lorries. They are powered 100% by self-generated green electricity and show that emission-free mobility also works in rural areas. Zellinger also set up its own fast-charging park, powered by the biogas plant. Digital route planning, waste tracking and intelligent weighing systems round off the concept.
Managing Director Jürgen Humer-Zellinger emphasises: "Electrifying our fleet is a logical step towards a climate-friendly future. Our goal is not just to reduce emissions, but to eliminate them in the long term." Thanks to the integrated approach, the company saves around 7.4 million kilograms of CO₂ per year and produces around 16 million kilowatt hours of "green" energy.
All other winners at a glance
In addition to Zellinger, the following people, companies and projects were also honoured:
- Service & trade: Die Vorratskammer
- Catering: Steilstufenwirt
- Craft & trade: Strobl Naturmühle
- Industry: Wiehag
- Agriculture & Forestry: Sturmberger GmbH
- Tourism: Woodstock der Blasmusik
- Associations, institutions, authorities: Lauriacum Enns Museum Association
- Regional & Digital (online voting): Fire OPS
- Special prize "Upper Austrian from the heart": Sepp Hochreiter
We think awards such as the Regionality Award, which show that (Upper) Austria is home to an impressive range of ideas, commitment and passion, are #schongenial.
