Preventing Plastic Pollution – From Source to Solution
Monitoring data from the Rydd i tide programme (Cleanup Norway in Time) show that plastic waste from sea-based industries—fisheries, aquaculture and the maritime sector—together with consumer-related plastic products and packaging, constitutes the dominant share of plastic pollution in Norway, both by weight and by item count.
This call, From Source to Solution, targets concrete measures that prevent identified plastic pollution before it reaches the sea. Measures may address sources located in Norway or abroad, provided the resulting litter ends up along the Norwegian coastline.
Plastic waste from sea-based industries dominates identifiable plastic waste and is a particular priority in this call.
Consumer-related plastic waste may originate from both sea-based and maritime activities and from land-based sources (e.g. inadequate waste management or poor securing of waste).
Other sources identified in the monitoring report include construction and building activities, industry, agriculture and road development.
The Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund (NREF) therefore invites applications for projects that implement measures addressing the sources of plastic litter along the Norwegian coast identified in the Cleanup Norway in Time monitoring programme. These sources may originate in Norway or in other countries.
Who can apply?
- All organisations are eligible
Under its Articles of Association, the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund (NREF) cannot provide support to projects by individual members. However, trade association members may now receive funding, provided that the project results are made publicly available. Current trade association members include The Federation of Norwegian Enterprise, Norwegian Federation of Service Industries and Retail Trade, and Dagligvarehandelens Miljøforum.
Important information about this call for applications
- Total budget: up to NOK 10 million
- Project duration: up to 2 years
- Co-funding requirement: at least 30 % of total project costs. Other financing may include: 1) the applicant’s own contribution (working hours or cash), 2) funds from private investors, or 3) grants from other funders.
- Application process: one-stage application
Important dates
8. September 2025
Application form opens
24. October 2025 16:00 (CET)
Deadline for full applications
19. December 2025
Funding decisions communicated (grant / rejection)
Priorities
NREF prioritises projects that address known and significant sources of plastic pollution, as identified in the Cleanup Norway in Time monitoring report, in particular:
- Sea-based and maritime industries: measures that reduce the risk of plastic pollution from fisheries, aquaculture, shipping and cruise activities.
- Waste management: measures that prevent plastic pollution during collection, transport and storage, including at construction sites, ports and waste facilities.
- Training, guidance and standards: development and implementation of guidelines, requirements and training that contribute to reducing identified sources of plastic pollution.
Projects that clearly specify the industry and source of plastic pollution in the application form, and link these to findings in the monitoring report, will be given priority.
Not eligible for funding
- Projects that do not align with the aims and priorities of this call
- Public information campaigns targeting the general population
- Development of solutions for the clean-up of plastic pollution
- Mapping/surveys of litter
- Operation of already commercialised systems or technology
- Ordinary operating costs, including rent, electricity and similar expenses. Project funding may cover costs for developing and piloting/testing new solutions, but not ongoing costs once a solution becomes part of regular operations
- Measures and activities implemented before the grant award date
Application requirements
- The applicant must be a private or public organisation registered in the Brønnøysund Register Centre or an equivalent international registry (e.g. company registration number/business number) to verify the organisation’s existence.
- The applicant must register the organisation and contact persons in the project portal.
- Applications must be submitted via the project portal.
- Project results must be made publicly available.
Budget and financing
- Hourly-rate rules apply.
- See the guidelines for project accounts and audit.
- Budgets must be realistic and explain how funds will be used.
- Co-funding: at least 30% of total project costs.
Other
- Applications must be written in Norwegian or English.
- Any previous agreements with NREF must have been fulfilled.
- Additional requirements may apply to (i) projects requesting more than NOK 5 million, (ii) projects in sanctioned countries, (iii) projects with high corruption risk, or (iv) projects in countries with low scores on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Reporting and accounting
Obligations of the applicant (project owner)
The applicant is the project owner. Grants are paid only to the project owner, who is responsible for payments to subcontractors, for delivering the project as described, and for reporting to NREF. A summary of key findings and results must be provided for NREF to communicate freely.
Reporting
- A brief status report is required prior to each payment.
- A final report is required after project completion.
- All reporting is done through the project portal.
Accounts and audit
- See the guidelines for project accounts and audit.
- A project account for the entire project period must be submitted as part of the final report.
- Grants > NOK 350,000 and up to NOK 1 million: an auditor must issue an ISRS 4400 statement.
- Grants > NOK 1 million: an ordinary audit under ISA 805 is required.
- Audit costs must be included in the budget.
- Hourly rates must follow the guidelines.
Grants and VAT
- NREF funding may be used as the applicant’s own contribution (co-financing) in applications to other funding schemes.
- Grants are provided as gifts and include any taxes and duties, including VAT.
- NREF considers such grants normally not subject to VAT, but recipients are responsible for compliance and must clarify with their auditor. NREF cannot be invoiced for, or otherwise charged with, additional costs arising from a recipient’s misinterpretation of VAT rules.
Application processing
Confidentiality and impartiality
All applications are treated in confidence and subject to strict rules on impartiality and non-disclosure. Where relevant, information may be shared on a confidential basis with other funders (e.g., the Norwegian Environment Agency, Sparebankstiftelsen). External experts and the NREF Board may be given access to applications. Applicants may list any persons or organisations they consider disqualified.
Application process
Each application is assessed by at least two members of NREF staff. External experts are involved as follows:
- Up to NOK 500,000: external expert engaged only if deemed necessary.
- Over NOK 500,000 and up to NOK 1 million: at least one external expert.
- Over NOK 1 million: at least two external experts.
Decision
The NREF administration compiles the assessments and submits recommendations to the Board, which makes the final decision.
Assessment criteria
Applications are assessed against four criteria, each scored on a scale of 1–7:
- Project quality – the quality of the proposed measures, activities and methods; the extent to which the work is ambitious and innovative, realistic, and well founded in knowledge and experience.
- Environmental impact – the potential to reduce the negative environmental effects of plastic in the short and long term; the extent to which the project can deliver sound solutions and results; plans for dissemination of results, knowledge and the solutions developed.
- Implementation – the quality of the project’s organisation, management and use of resources; the extent to which the project is well structured with appropriate expertise in the project team and partners.
- Thematic priorities – the extent to which the project addresses NREF’s thematic priorities set out in this call.
Additional scrutiny
Applications requesting more than NOK 5 million, and other applications that NREF considers to require deeper assessment, will be subject to additional scrutiny. In such cases, an online meeting will be held at which the applicant presents the project and responds to questions from NREF staff and experts.
Questions?
Project portal: Borghild Storaas - borghild@handelensmiljofond.no
Call for applications: Mari Kristin Martinsen - m.kristin@handelensmiljofond.no
