PROJECT: SUP2LOOP Green Innovation challenge | Unpack the future: Piloting plastic free solutions
Single-use plastics (SUPs) remain one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, particularly in sectors with high consumption and disposal rates, such as the hospitality and food services industries. Despite growing regulatory pressures and consumer awareness, the transition to circular solutions is slow due to system-level constraints, limited innovation uptake, and a lack of cross-sector collaboration.
Plastic producers and HORECA businesses in Albania are at the heart of this challenge and strategically positioned to lead impactful and circular solutions.
The project aims to drive a systemic reduction of single-use plastics (SUPs) by promoting sustainable alternatives, fostering circular thinking within business practices, and strengthening an innovation ecosystem that aligns with circular economy principles, reduces plastic waste, and unlocks new value chains.
Why SUP matters
Single-use plastics (SUPs) are products made wholly or partly of plastic that are intended to be used only once or for a short period before being discarded. They represent one of the most harmful sources of pollution and add increasingly large amounts of waste to already strained national waste management systems. For this reason, the EU Directive (EU 2019/904) introduced restrictions and bans on some of the most problematic items. The directive specifically bans 10 SUP items: cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, beverage stirrers, balloon sticks, food containers made of expanded polystyrene, beverage cups and containers of expanded polystyrene, packets and wrappers, and wet wipes/sanitary items. Read more about the directive here.
As Albania progresses toward EU accession, these same rules will soon apply nationally, based on the provisions of the upcoming new law on integrated waste management.
How will this affect Albanian businesses?
Both producers and users of plastic packaging must prepare to adapt. For Albanian businesses, the ban is both a challenge and an opportunity: producers will need to replace existing SUP products with eco-friendly alternatives, while SMEs that use packaging must switch to sustainable solutions to remain compliant. Early movers who invest now in innovation and alternatives will not only meet future regulatory requirements but also gain a competitive edge in Albania’s circular and plastic free future.
Objectives:
- Drive the systemic reduction of single-use plastics by promoting sustainable alternatives and supporting businesses in the HORECA and plastic production sectors through grant schemes
- Strengthening the innovative ecosystem by providing capacity-building opportunities, implementing sustainable solutions, and contributing to long-term environmental and economic sustainability
Expected Outcomes
- The successful piloting of at least five (5) innovative business solutions for SUP reduction in Albania
- Increased adoption of reusable alternatives within the HORECA sector, among plastic producers and other relevant industries
- Driving a broader shift toward circular economic principles
- Reduction in single use plastic waste and an increase in waste prevention and reuse practices
- Potential creation of new green jobs through the implementation of single-use plastic (SUP) reduction practices
Purpose of the assignment – Four Experts for Green Hackathon
The experts will be tasked with implementing a structured hackathon experience that supports the process of fostering circular thinking within business practices.
The role of the expert in a green hackathon span across the whole lifecycle of the event. Before the hackathon, the expert is responsible for planning and preparation. That means shaping the structure of the event, preparing tools like checklists, timelines, and stakeholder maps, and ensuring that event logistics are aligned with eco-friendly principles, such as zero, waste practices, sustainable materials, and digital tools as a replacement alternative for printed paper.
During the hackathon, the experts are expected to take a more active facilitation role and guide the flow of the event through a clear agenda, use progress tracking templates, and support teams with mentorship frameworks. Simultaneously, the experts will oversee operations to ensure everything runs smoothly and that all participants stay engaged and supported.
During the key event, namely the 3-days green hackathon, the experts ensure that the process is fair, and transparent. The experts are obliged to follow clear criteria, prepare the demo day presentations, and provide feedback to help improve future green hackathons.
This call seeks the following listed experts
- Business Model Expert (National)
- Environment Expert (National)
- Circular Economy Expert (National)
- Circular Innovation Expert (International)
Legal requirements to be submitted by the Candidates
The interested candidates are required to submit the following documents:
- Updated CV highlighting experience in moderating events, hackathons, and previously implemented projects
- List of similar experiences – short summary of green projects related to circular economy or environmental sustainability topics.
- Technical proposal – including methodology
- Financial Offer (as per attached document)
- Copy of identity document (ID card or passport).
- Certificate of judicial status (e-Albania)
- Official Copy of the diploma and work certificates
- Declaration on Honor on Exclusion Criteria and Selection Criteria (according to the attached document)
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following scoring criteria:
| Criteria | Maximum (points) |
| Updated CV highlighting experience in moderating events, hackathons, and jobs + List of experiences | 30 |
| Technical proposal – including methodology, proposed agenda, and tools to be used. | 30 |
| Documents (legal) | 10 |
| Financial offer | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
Contract conditions
Expertise Service
Location in Tirana
Assignment period: November – December 2025 (min 6 working days per expert)
Please forward your application by latest the 24th of October 2025, to Milieukontakt Albania via the following email address: office@milieukontakt.org.
Evaluation of offers
Assessment of proposals based on best value, considering both technical merit and price-quality ratio.
Notification of the winners
The successful bidder will be notified by email that their bid has been accepted.
We are pioneering this initiative through the EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities project (EU4CELC), co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ Albania in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (MoE). The EU4CELC project aims to facilitate Albania’s transition to a circular economy, empower municipalities to create livable cities for the future, and contribute to improved citizens’ health, green job creation, and enhanced energy efficiency.
