Meet the CCL Shkodra Hackathon Winners

3 Days of Innovation and 12 Teams Advancing to Acceleration

The Circular City Lab Shkodra Hackathon, held over three dynamic days at the ARKA Youth Center, brought together innovators, young professionals, and community leaders to tackle the challenges of the circular economy.

Day 1: Kick-Off & Inspiration

The Hackathon started with welcoming speeches from Edvin Pacara (EU Delegation to Albania), Thilo Schroeter (German Embassy Tirana), and Bekim Mema (Municipality of Shkodra). Their remarks highlighted the importance of the circular economy for a sustainable future in Albania.

Participants were then inspired by Marcel Thomkins, who presented key insights into the goals and expectations of the hackathon. Eduart Cani followed with an impactful keynote on circular economy innovations. Workshops led by Eric Schuetz helped participants understand successful circular solutions, while the first day concluded with a lively pitching and team-building session that set the stage for the following days.

Day 2: Ideation & Problem Solving

On the second day, the teams dove into ideation and problem-solving. The morning was spent identifying key challenges in their focus areas, supported by their mentors. In the afternoon, they began prototyping their solutions during a dedicated workshop session, followed by an engaging discussion on business model innovation to help make their circular economy solutions both sustainable and profitable.

Later, teams refined their ideas during a fast-paced mentorship round, receiving valuable feedback to enhance their projects. The day ended with a reflection session, where participants shared their progress and prepared for the final day.

Day 3: Final Presentations & Announcement of Winners

The excitement reached its peak on the third day, as teams prepared their pitches and practiced their presentations with the support of mentors. Each team then had the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas before a jury, highlighting the impact their projects could have on the community and environment.

After much deliberation, the jury announced the 12 winning teams that will move on to the next phase of acceleration. These teams demonstrated outstanding innovation and practical solutions for promoting a circular economy in Shkodra:

  1. Antika Solution: Rescuing, restoring, and reselling household items through a partnership with a decluttering company, aiming for increased recycling and reduced waste.
  2. Trast Me: A solution for textile waste management for furniture factories, transforming waste into economic value while creating jobs and protecting the environment.
  3. Plot Shije: Bringing handmade products to consumers using overproduced fruits and vegetables, reducing food waste while providing opportunities for middle-aged women.
  4. EcoCycle Connect: A digital marketplace connecting restaurants and shops with farmers and composters, enabling sustainable organic waste repurposing.
  5. 1998 Studio: Reusing old clothes to create new, personalised items, aimed primarily at tourists in Shkodra.
  6. Eco Clean Buckets: A business solution for collecting and reusing empty paint and sauce buckets, reducing environmental harm and providing discounts to customers.
  7. Eggcellent Recycle: Recycling cardboard waste from businesses to produce egg trays and coffee cup holders, addressing waste disposal issues.
  8. The Galley Hostel: Implementing sustainable practices such as reusable cups shared among hostels and bars in Shkodra, reducing the use of single-use plastics.
  9. Alpine Bees Bee Wax Clean and Recycle: Collecting and recycling used beeswax to provide clean, new frames for beekeepers, addressing contamination issues.
  10. Gojë Gaditëse: Providing reusable packaging for take-out and catering services, focusing on sustainable and zero-waste solutions.
  11. Bed Station: Turning textile and wood waste into functional products such as furniture and accessories through workshops and community engagement.
  12. Circa: A platform for buying, selling, and recycling textiles, promoting eco-friendly consumption and reducing fashion industry waste.

With 12 teams now moving into the acceleration phase, we are excited to see their projects further develop and contribute to a greener and more circular future for Shkodra. 

CCL Shkodra is an acceleration programme powered by EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities and EU4Innovation, implemented by YSB Balkans, in collaboration with Deep Ecosystems, Arka and the Municipality of Shkodra.

CCL Shkodra Info Session Paves the Way for Innovations in the Circular Economy

CCL Shkodra Info Session marked the first step towards a transformative journey for our city in the field of circular economy and urban sustainability.

The event began with a warm welcome from the organisers and key community figures. Mr. Shkëlzen Marku, CEO of Yunus Social Business Balkans and Mr. Rudin Beka, Deputy Mayor of Shkodra Municipality, emphasised the importance of local community involvement in developing sustainable solutions for waste management and improving the quality of life in Shkodër.

Dr. Iven Schad, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy to Albania, shared his vision on the significance of the circular economy in the European context and the role Shkodër can play as a model for other cities in the region.

Presentation of the Circular City Labs Shkodra Initiative

Mr. Marcel Thomkins, Component Manager EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities, provided an overview of the Circular City Labs Shkodra initiative, sharing the main objectives and expectations for the acceleration program. He highlighted that the primary goal is to create innovative solutions that can have a tangible impact on waste management and contribute to developing a more sustainable economy.

Participation Criteria and Application Process

Mr. Rubin Beci, Advisor EU for Circular Economy and Livable Cities, detailed the participation criteria and application process for the acceleration program. He emphasized that innovation, creativity, and positive community impact are the key elements sought from applicants. Participants were encouraged to bring ideas that address current waste management challenges in Shkodër and that could be scaled regionally or nationally.

Design Thinking Workshop

Following the presentations, attendees engaged in an interactive Design Thinking workshop led by Mr. Shkëlzen Marku. During this session, they worked in groups to identify key problems and develop creative approaches to solve them. This activity promoted collaboration and fostered innovative thinking among participants.

Many participants expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunity provided by Circular City Labs Shkodra. “This info session gave us a clear picture of how we can contribute to transforming our city,” said one attendee. “I’m excited to apply and be part of this program”, added another.

The info session for Circular City Labs Shkodra was a significant step towards creating an innovative community dedicated to sustainability and the circular economy. With the support of local and international institutions, this initiative promises to bring positive changes for the city of Shkodër and beyond.

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Circular City Labs Shkodra: Accelerating Circular Economy Solutions for Livable Cities

Applications for the Circular City Labs Shkodra are open from 26th of August to 29th of September 2024.

What is Circular Economy? 

The Circular Economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and maximize resource use by keeping products, materials, and resources in circulation for as long as possible. Unlike the traditional linear model, which follows a “buy, use, dispose” approach, the circular economy emphasizes durability, reusability, repairability, and recyclability. This approach is essential for managing the increasing volume of global waste, as it promotes reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. By extending product lifecycles and cutting down on raw material extraction, the circular economy helps conserve resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

What is Circular City Labs Shkodra?

Circular City Labs (CCL) is an innovative accelerator program aimed at tackling urban waste issues by fostering circular economy solutions. Following the success of Circular City Labs – Tirana, we are excited to announce the launch of Circular City Labs – Shkodra (CCL Shkodra). This initiative focuses on developing sustainable solutions for Organic Waste, Packaging Waste, and Textile & Garment Waste, with a special emphasis on creating livable cities.

CCL Shkodra is a program designed to find new and effective ways to manage waste and promote sustainability in cities. It is an accelerator program meaning it helps businesses and projects grow faster by giving them the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed. This program focuses primarily on three main types of waste: organic waste (like food scraps), packaging waste (like plastic and cardboard), and textile and garment waste (like old clothes). However, circular economy solutions for other waste types are also welcome. The goal is to create better, cleaner, and more livable cities by finding ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle these kinds of waste.

The CCL Shkodra program is part of a broader initiative to transform Albanian cities into innovation-driven, circular, and knowledge-based economies. This program is supported by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the EU 4 Circular Economy and Livable Cities (EU4CELC) and EU4Innovation (EU4I) programs. CCL forms part of the BMZ Initiative for Climate and Environmental Protection (IKU) and runs from 01/2023 to 12/2025.

The CCL Shkodra program is implemented by Yunus Social Business Balkans (YSB Balkans), under the umbrella of its “Growpreneur Accelerator Programme”, in cooperation with DEEP Ecosystems and ARKA. The initiative aims to empower local actors in the Shkodra region to design, prototype, test and pilot viable circular economy solutions that have the potential to scale, replicate and generate positive environmental and social impact. Four entities presenting the most effective solutions will be selected to be piloted in the market and will each receive an award of EUR 50,000 in the form of grants.

Who Should Join? Circular City Labs – Shkodra is designed for businesses, startups, and individuals across various sectors and industries, seeking to develop circular economy solutions falling in any of the following four main categories: (i) Food and Agriculture Waste Solutions; (ii) Packaging Waste Solutions; (iii) Textile Waste Solutions, and (iv) Flexible Circular Economy Solutions.

The applicants may come from various sector or industries, such as, but not limited to:

      • HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes)
      • Retail & Grocery
      • E-commerce & IT (focused on solutions for waste management)
      • Logistics & Event Management (with an emphasis on sustainable practices)
      • City Administration (working on urban waste solutions)
      • Academia & Researchers (studying waste reduction and circular economy)
      • Civil Society (involved in sustainability and environmental initiatives)
      • Food Processing & Manufacturing
      • Agriculture & Farming
      • Packaging Industry
      • Fashion & Textile Industry
      • Waste Management & Recycling Services
      • Consumer Goods
      • Health & Beauty
      • Hospitality & Tourism
      • Education & Training Providers

    The program encourages especially encourage female founders and women-led businesses to apply, aligning with its commitment to gender development policies.

    For more details about the programme check the program’s webpage and its detailed application guidelines or contact the programme team directly.