Deadline Date: March 16, 2026
The Green Champions Cup Challenge invites Albanian businesses in the sport and cultural event to pilot innovative solutions that eliminate single-use plastic (SUP) cups.
The focus areas of the challenge include driving a systemic reduction of single-use plastics by promoting sustainable alternatives in sports and cultural events, fostering circular thinking and design within business practices, and strengthening an ecosystem that supports long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
The project targets waste reduction from single-use plastics at a national level and provides financial support through sub-grants totaling €50,000. Co-financing is mandatory, with 20% required from MSMEs and 50% from large companies, which can include in-kind contributions but not entirely. The project duration is four months.
Eligible applicants include registered business entities or consortia operating in Albania for at least 12 months, particularly those in the sports and HoReCa industries, though applications from other sectors are also welcome. Public or municipal companies, NGOs, and academic institutions are not eligible as lead applicants but may participate as part of a consortium with a private company. Beneficiaries also include circular economy innovators and startups developing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
The selection process is open, fair, and transparent, based on merit, promoting equal opportunity and inclusion. Selection criteria focus on the impact on the reduction of single-use plastics, the type of business service, potential for job creation, scalability, and the sustainability of the proposed solution and business model.
For more information, visit Milieukontakt Albania.
