Announcement 2020

About the announcement

Many countries suffer from major plastic pollution challenges due to insufficient waste management, and limited resources to solve the issues. These countries are therefore the most vulnerable to plastic waste leakage into rivers and oceans.

Through this call for applications, the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund is aiming to fund projects, and establish partnerships, with organisations aiming to reduce plastic pollution, increase the resource efficiency of plastics, including the recycling of plastic waste, globally.

Types of applications

There are two kinds of applications in this announcement, defined by the complexity and duration of the environmental measures aiming to be realised.

Applying for a partnership: A partnership is suitable for complex, long term work. E.g. initiatives aiming to systematically address all parts of the value chain for plastics, necessary to prevent plastic pollution, increase the collection, sorting and recycling of plastic waste. The Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund will be an active partner for the duration of the partnership.

Applying for a project: Projects are defined by a set timeframe and budget, defined outputs and results.

Thematic areas

Projects and partnerships can address the following thematic areas:

• Collection of plastic waste from rivers:
  A vast amount of worldwide plastic pollution is due to insufficient waste management in developing countries, brought to the oceans via rivers. To test existing solutions for collecting plastics from rivers before it reaches the ocean is an efficient method of reducing plastic pollution.
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR):
  EPR is a policy approach where producers are given a significant responsibility for financing the management of products when they end up as waste. Many countries have not yet established EPR of plastic packaging and fishing gear. Assisting governments in developing countries to adopt these solutions can contribute in reducing the amount of plastic waste ending up as pollution.

Additionally, we are looking for partnerships aiming to:

• Managing plastic waste streams:
  Working systematically to address every part of the value chain for plastics is necessary to prevent plastic pollution, increase the collection, sorting and recycling of plastic waste. Long term initiatives are necessary to ensure that actions and solutions are financed and permanently implemented locally.

Lastly, projects can also be aimed towards the following industries:

• The fishing industry:
  Fishing vessels are responsible for a large portion of plastic pollution by volume and weight, whether products containing plastics are lost or discarded. Fishing nets and ropes are found along coastlines all over the world. There is a great potential to reduce plastic pollution from fishing industries in developing countries.
• The textile industry:
  Plastic pollution from textile production in developing countries contributes to microplastics into rivers and oceans. We are looking for specific measures to reduce plastic pollution from textile production in developing countries.

Who is eligible to apply?

Any NGO, foundation, organisation or business can apply for funding, as long as they are publicly registered (a VAT number or similar must be provided in the application form).

Preferred applicant qualifications:

• to have documented experience and relevant thematic knowledge
• be capable of running projects that can be replicated elsewhere
• to run projects of scalability
• to have local involvement
• to have relevant international experience and ability to achieve defined outcomes
• to have documented experience from successful projects

Who is not eligible to apply?

Individuals and organisations that are not publicly registered.

How much can we apply for?

The Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund is announcing a total of 25 million NOK distributed accordingly:

• 15 million NOK to a maximum of 10 project applications
• 10 million NOK to a maximum of 3 partners

We retain the right to conduct both due diligence and credit risk analysis of applicants.

Application process

Applying for a partnership

1. The first step for applicants is to submit a short prequalification application. The prequalification deadline is the 1st of October 2020
2. Applications will be reviewed by the Fund’s administration
3. Following this, they will be evaluated by an external advisory board
4. On the 15th of October a limited number of applicants will be invited to write a full application. The application deadline is the 15th of November 2020
5. Full applications will be reviewed by the Fund’s administration
6. Following this, the applications will be evaluated by an external advisory board
7. Lastly, the Fund’s board will make final grant decisions
8. Grants will be announced by the end of January 2021

Application deadlines

Prequalification: 1st of October 2020 (NB! the application deadline has expired)
Full application: 15th of November 2020 (11.59 pm CET)

Applying for a project

1. Applications will be reviewed by the Fund’s administration
2. Following this, they will be evaluated by an external advisory board
3. Lastly, the Fund’s board will make final grant decisions
4. Grants will be announced by the end of January 2021

Application deadline

Project application: 15th of October 2020 (NB! the application deadline has expired)

External advisory board for this announcement is:

Bert van Bavel from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Kjersti Busch from SALT Lofoten
Øyvind Eggen prev. from Rainforest Foundation Norway
Annabelle Lefébure-Henriksen from Fairtrade Norway
Frode Syversen from Mepex Consult