What is the Plastic Fantastic Hackathon
The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon is an online innovation challenge where teams come together to design actionable solutions for the detection, collection, prevention, and valorisation of marine litter.
The Hackathon is part of the PHAROS, an EU-funded project which aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while addressing climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions.
The Challenge
Let’s design and develop solutions to pollution!
The contamination of oceans, seas, and coastal ecosystems by plastics, chemicals, waste, and other human-derived debris is threatening ecosystems and biodiversity, human health, and the sustainability of marine resources. We are seeking solutions that address this challenge through.
We are seeking solutions that address this challenge through:
Detection and monitoring
Methods and tools to identify, track, and assess marine litter sources, distribution, and impacts.
Collection and Valorisation
Efficient systems to remove marine litter and transform recovered materials into valuable resources through reuse, recycling, or upcycling.
Reduction and Prevention
Strategies, products, and policies that prevent marine litter at its source and reduce its generation across value chains.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Everyone with ideas, motivation or projects to protect our oceans is welcome! Any citizens, students, startups, young professionals, associations, NGOs and early-stage companies are invited to join.
Two different tracks:
TRACK A – IDEA STAGE
For individuals or teams with early-stage concepts who want to refine, develop, and structure their solution.
TRACK B – EMERGING ORGANISATIONS*
For recently established companies or small non-profit organisations looking to strengthen, scale, or further develop their existing solution.
*Only for profit-organisations with less than 5 years and non-for-profit organisations with less than 5FTEs can participate.
What Can You Win?
Four winning teams (two per track) will win:
SPEAKERS
Ruth Andrade
Lorena Silvestri
Andrew Bownds
Argyrios Moustakas
MENTORS
Uroš Novak
Jose Manuel Antón García
Eleni Petra
Adelina de la Jara
JURY MEMBERS
Pablo Reche
Gordon Dalton
Sophie Lamprou
Dimitris Kokkinakis
Organisers
