Plastic Fantastic Hackathon Finals Report

• May 20, 2026

The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon finale has successfully ended, marking the close of an eight‑day online innovation sprint that drew innovators from four continents. Organised by Impact Hub Athens under the EU‑funded PHAROS project, the challenge brought together teams to design actionable solutions for the detection, collection, prevention and valorisation of marine litter.

The competition kicked off on 11 May with a three‑day bootcamp, then surged into two final hackathon days on 18 and 19 May, where 12 hand‑picked finalists pitched their visions to a jury of blue‑economy experts. On the final evening, four winning teams walked away with €10,000 in cash prizes and a three‑month acceleration programme.

“This hackathon was never just about ideas. It was about the people and organisations willing to back them, and these winners have shown they are ready to scale”, said an Impact Hub Athens spokesperson.

Winners by Track

The jury split the competition into two tracks: Track A – Idea Stage (Emerging Innovators) and Track B – Established Organisations (Scaling Ventures).

Track A – Idea Stage (Emerging Innovators)

First Place (€3,000): C-Quest Blue (Ireland)

Ireland’s entry turned heads with high‑chemistry innovation: converting mixed coastal plastics into recycled carbon feedstock using a bio‑derived catalyst made from plant extracts. The process supports biodiversity recovery, waste valorisation and circular bioeconomy solutions without requiring plastic pre‑processing.

The jury praised its elegant, low‑energy chemistry, noting: “By removing the need for pre‑sorting or washing, C-Quest Blue could unlock value from previously unrecyclable coastal plastics.”

Second Place (€1,000): Taka Point (Kenya)

Kenya’s Taka Point took runner‑up honours with an IoT‑enabled smart bin system that gamifies recycling in schools, malls and events. Users earn points for recycling bottles, while organisations track environmental impact in real time.

Judges called it “a clever fusion of behavioural economics and digital monitoring – turning waste disposal into a reward‑driven habit for the next generation.”

Track B – Established Organisations (Scaling Ventures)

First Place (€4,000): EvoNatura (United States)

An American biotech firm won the top prize in the mature track with an additive that gives conventional plastics a ‘programmed death’ in soil (and is currently working on an ocean‑deployable solution). Compatible with existing production lines, EvoNatura’s additive maintains performance while enabling full biodegradation in real conditions such as soil and compost.

The jury highlighted its immediate scalability, regulatory readiness and the potential to retrofit global supply chains without retooling.

Second Place (€2,000): Progreen (Kenya)

Kenya’s Progreen secured second place by turning plastic waste into circular fuels and eco‑bricks. Recyclable plastics become certified industrial fuels, while laminates are transformed into bricks for local construction. The solution prevents waste from reaching dumpsites and oceans.

The judges commended its dual‑revenue model and direct impact on both energy poverty and marine litter, calling it “a pragmatic, shovel‑ready answer to East Africa’s plastic crisis.”

All four winning teams will now enter the three‑month accelerator, with a demo day expected in late summer.

Final Days: Panels, Keynotes and Pitches

The final two days of the hackathon (18–19 May) were packed with high‑level sessions.

Day 1 – 18 May: Funding the Blue Economy

Panel Discussion: Funding the Blue Economy

• Moderator: Andrei Geica (Sporos Platform)
• Speakers: Ruth Andrade (LUSH), Patricia Puig (Oceanomi), Ines Mas de la Peña (Climate KIC)
• Scope: Funding strategies, investment perspectives and pathways to scale blue economy solutions.

Day 2 – 19 May: Keynote and Pitching Finale

Keynote Speech

• Speaker: Andreea Strachinescu (CINEA)
• Scope: Insights on EU priorities, funding frameworks and opportunities in the blue economy.

Hackathon Pitching Session

• Participants: 12 finalist teams
• Scope: Final pitching session where selected teams presented their solutions to the jury and winners were selected.

A Broader Mission: The PHAROS Project

The hackathon is part of PHAROS, an EU‑funded project that 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. By fostering breakthrough innovations in marine litter, PHAROS seeks to bridge the gap between bold ideas and real‑world impact.

Thank You to Our Partners

The Plastic Fantastic Hackathon was made possible by a vast community of supporters. Organisers extended a huge thank you to:

Community Partners (11 organisations)

Supporting outreach and visibility across their networks, communities and platforms: Frederick University, Sporos, SeaClear2.0 project, BlueBioMatch, SUBMARINER, Smilo, WWF, SUNDANSE, University of Aegean, CTNaval.

Content Partners (39 organisations)

Including mentors, trainers, jury members, speakers, ecosystem builders, researchers, accelerators, NGOs, EU institutions and blue economy organisations: IZNASU, Oceanogami, CINEA, Relevant Ventures, Underwater Gardens International, Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands, Sporos Platform, AINIA, CIIMAR-UP, CMCC, LUSH, PLOCAN, WWF Greece, AIR Centre, .jes, Aegean Rebreath, Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Athena Research Center, Bantry Marine Research Station, CNR-ISMAR, CTN, Deltares, DG MARE, Eco Brixs, Gravity Wave, ICORSA, Impact Hub Athens, Metavallon Fund, National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia, NTUA, Scidrones, University of Sarajevo, VLIZ – Flanders Marine Institute, UniFund, River Cleaning, Climate KIC, Blue Oasis, HCMR, Up-Fuse

“Together, they represent a growing ecosystem committed to tackling marine litter, accelerating ocean innovation, and supporting solutions that can create real impact for marine ecosystems and the blue economy.”

Discover all partners and experts:
➡ https://pharosproject.eu/hackathon/

What’s Next?

With the winners now entering the three‑month accelerator, the focus shifts from competition to implementation. The demo day later this summer will offer a first glimpse at how C-Quest Blue, Taka Point, EvoNatura and Progreen translate their prize money and mentorship into scalable, investable ventures.

For now, the ocean has gained four new allies, and a wave of hope.