Handelens Miljøfond (Norwegian Retailers Environment Fund) - Plastics Circularity Program 2025

Expired – · Found: 2026-03-13 15:11

Norwegian fund offering up to NOK 40 million for 2-5 large projects (>NOK 5 million, up to 3 years) on plastic circularity including extending product lifespan, smart design, source separation, and recycling. Prioritizes full value chains with substantial plastic volumes. Minimum 50% co-funding required. Open to international projects showing clear transfer value to Norway. NGOs eligible. Application deadline September 26, 2025. Focus on packaging and innovative solutions for plastic waste streams.

Source: https://handelensmiljofond.no/reduced-consumption-of-plastics-and-plastics-circularity-2025

Funding Details

Funder

Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund (Handelens Miljøfond / NREF)

Funding Goal

Support large-scale projects that reduce plastic consumption and advance plastics circularity in Norway. Main priority is plastic packaging — increasing sorting and recycling rates, developing reuse systems, and meeting EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation targets. Other eligible areas include circular business models extending plastic product lifetimes, industrial plastic waste sorting, and solutions for hard-to-recycle plastic waste streams (e.g. nappies/diapers). Fisheries, aquaculture, and chemical recycling are explicitly excluded.

Funding Amount

Up to NOK 40 million total; 2-5 large projects each >NOK 5 million. Smaller projects may be funded if strongly aligned. Approx. EUR conversion based on NOK/EUR ~0.088. (440.000 € – 3.520.000 €)

Deadline

2025-09-26 (Fixed)

How to Apply

One-stage application submitted via the project portal at portal.handelensmiljofond.no. Application form opens 25 August 2025. Full application deadline: 26 September 2025 at 16:00 CET. Decision announced 19 December 2025. Applications >NOK 5 million may require an online presentation meeting. Contact for portal questions: Borghild Storaas. Contact for call questions: Sjur Kvifte Nesheim.

Target Region

Norway (primary). International projects eligible if clear transfer value to Norway is demonstrated.

Contact

Application portal: Borghild Storaas (borghild.storaas@handelensmiljofond.no). Call questions: Sjur Kvifte Nesheim (sjur.nesheim@handelensmiljofond.no).

Last Checked

2026-03-13 16:28

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a registered private or public enterprise (Norwegian Brønnøysund registry or equivalent international body)
• Individual NREF members cannot apply; trade association members may apply if results are made publicly available
• International applicants must demonstrate clear transfer value to Norway

Project Scope

• Project must align with the call's thematic priorities (packaging circularity or other eligible plastic waste streams)
• Fisheries, aquaculture, and chemical recycling projects are explicitly excluded

Required Documents

• Budget must be submitted with realistic justification; hourly rates must follow NREF guidelines
• Audit required: ISRS 4400 statement for grants >NOK 350,000–1M; full ISA 805 audit for grants >NOK 1 million

Constraints

• Minimum 50% co-funding of total project costs required from other sources
• Project duration up to 3 years maximum
• Project results must be made publicly available

Summary

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund (NREF) offers up to NOK 40 million (approximately EUR 3.5 million) to fund 2-5 large projects (each exceeding NOK 5 million / ~EUR 440,000) focused on reducing plastic consumption and advancing plastics circularity in Norway. The 2025 call prioritises plastic packaging, aiming to help Norway reach EU targets of at least 55% material recycling of plastic packaging by 2030. Eligible activities include improving sorting and recycling infrastructure, developing reuse systems for transport packaging, standardisation work along packaging value chains, and addressing de-packaging of food waste. Beyond packaging, the call supports circular solutions that extend plastic product lifetimes (repair and reuse), sorting industrial plastic waste streams, and developing solutions for plastic-rich waste streams currently lacking adequate treatment (such as nappies). Fisheries, aquaculture, and chemical recycling are explicitly excluded from eligibility. All types of companies and organisations can apply, including international applicants that demonstrate clear transfer value to Norway. A minimum 50% co-funding contribution is required. Projects covering the entire value chain are prioritised, with up to 3 years of project duration allowed. Applications are evaluated on project quality, environmental impact, implementation capacity, and alignment with thematic priorities. This is a single-stage application with a deadline of 26 September 2025. Decisions are expected by 19 December 2025. The program is administered by NREF, which is funded through levies on plastic bags sold by Norwegian retailers.

Historical Context

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund (NREF) is an annual grant program funded by Norwegian retailers. This is the 2025 call for proposals under the plastics circularity theme. The fund has previously supported plastic-related projects across Norway and internationally.

Sources

• https://handelensmiljofond.no/reduced-consumption-of-plastics-and-plastics-circularity-2025
• https://handelensmiljofond.no/vurderingskriterier

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