Reduced plastic bag usage and sustainable alternatives

We must use fewer plastic carrier bags per person, use bin liners for waste, and reusable bags or other reusable solutions when shopping.

All types of businesses that want to contribute to reducing the use of plastic bags can apply.

• • Announced framework: NOK 3 million
  • Project duration: Must be completed by 30 June 2026
  • Ongoing allocation

• The use of plastic carrier bags is highest in grocery retailers. The main reason people buy plastic bags is that they do not remember their shopping bags until they are in the store or do not always plan their next shopping trip. We know there is no shortage of shopping bags at home.

  These are examples of barriers that should be addressed. In this call for applications, a variety of measures can be supported, such as nudging, collaboration with suppliers, testing sharing services, and implementing deposit schemes. The common denominator for all these measures is that they aim to reduce the sale of plastic bags and increase the use of reusable alternatives. The list is not exhaustive.
  

  Applications must either directly or indirectly demonstrate a probable reduction in the use of plastic carrier bags in Norway.

  Here you can see results from a population survey on plastic carrier bags (link, pdf).

  It is possible to apply for funding for other types of projects, but projects primarily focusing on awareness-raising work are not prioritised. If the project requires measures within retail businesses selling plastic bags, we will prioritise projects with a written cooperation agreement with these businesses.
  
  Get more information about plastic carrier bags here.

• • Measures that contribute to increased use of other single-use products, for example, paper bags
  • Clean operation: Development and testing of solutions and technology can be supported, but not the operation of the solution once it is fully developed.
  • Development and testing of solutions and technology can be supported, but not the operation of the solution once it is fully developed.
  • Measures and activities that are implemented before the date of any grant allocation

• • The applicant must have an organisation number and be registered in the Brønnøysund Register Centre or its equivalent internationally, such as a Company Registration Number (CRN) or a similar number confirming the entity's existence.
  • The organisation and contact persons must be registered in the project portal.
  • Applications must be submitted through the project portal.
  • Economy (more information)Rules for hourly rates in calculating project expensesAudit, including threshold amounts and guidelines for the applicant's accountant
  • Rules for hourly rates in calculating project expenses
  • Audit, including threshold amounts and guidelines for the applicant's accountant
  • Applicants must provide realistic budgets and describe how the funds will be used.
  • Applications must be written in Norwegian or English.
  • Any previously made agreements with the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund must be complied with.
  • If at least one of the points below applies to the project, the application form will require the applicant to answer additional questions:The funding requested exceeds 5 million NOK.The country is listed in the EU Sanctions Map. Support cannot be requested for projects in countries listed on the EU/UN sanctions list unless it can be documented through an extended self-declaration that the project's funds do not, for example, go to sanctioned individuals.The country is mentioned in the Norwegian authorities' table Current sanctions and measures.The country has a score lower than 40 in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
  • The funding requested exceeds 5 million NOK.
  • The country is listed in the EU Sanctions Map. Support cannot be requested for projects in countries listed on the EU/UN sanctions list unless it can be documented through an extended self-declaration that the project's funds do not, for example, go to sanctioned individuals.
  • The country is mentioned in the Norwegian authorities' table Current sanctions and measures.
  • The country has a score lower than 40 in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

• Before the second and subsequent payments, the recipient must submit a status report for the project when requesting the disbursement of funds.
• Multi-year projects: the recipient must submit a written annual report for the project each year.
• All projects must submit a final report for the project.
• All reports must be submitted electronically in the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund’s project portal. This will be explained in the startup meeting.

Guide to project accounting and auditing

Project accounts and auditing

• All projects must prepare final project accounts for the entire project period as part of the final report.
• For grants from NOK 350,000 up to and including NOK 1,000,000, a statement must also be provided by a state-authorised public accountant with “Agreed-upon procedures” in accordance with ISRS 4400 Agreed-upon procedures.
• For grants exceeding NOK 1,000,000, a statement must also be provided by a state-authorised public accountant with an audit of the project accounts in accordance with ISA 805 (Revised), Special considerations – audits of single financial statements and specific elements, accounts or items of a financial statement.

Costs associated with the use of an accountant are incurred by the project, and must be included in the budget when relevant.

• 
  The processing of the application follows a strict conflict of interest and confidentiality agreement. Read the declarations here. Please note that the information in the application may be shared confidentially with other funding entities (such as the Norwegian Environment Agency and the Sparebank Foundation) during the application processing where relevant. This is to ensure good and efficient processing, as well as appropriate use of funds.
  

  Selected experts from the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund's Expert committee and Board may have access to the application during its evaluation and board processing. In the application form, the applicant can specify the names of individuals and entities they believe are disqualified, and thus should not have access to the application.
  

  Procedure for application processing
  
  

  • Assessment of the application: At least two employees of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund assess the application. In addition, external experts with relevant knowledge are utilized:Applications up to and including NOK 500,000: An external expert is involved only if the administration deems it necessary.Applications over NOK 500,000, up to and including NOK 1 million: At least one external expert assesses the application.Applications over NOK 1 million: At least two external experts assess the application.
  • Applications up to and including NOK 500,000: An external expert is involved only if the administration deems it necessary.
  • Applications over NOK 500,000, up to and including NOK 1 million: At least one external expert assesses the application.
  • Applications over NOK 1 million: At least two external experts assess the application.
  • Decision: The administration of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund compiles its own and external experts' assessments and presents recommended allocations to the board, which makes the final decision.
    

  Assessment criteria
  
  

  The application will be assessed according to four criteria, with all criteria given equal weight on a scale from 1–7:

  • Project quality
    The quality of the proposed measures, activities, and methods. The extent to which the proposed work is ambitious and innovative, realistic, and well-grounded in knowledge and experience.
  • Environmental impact
    The potential to reduce the negative environmental impacts of plastics in the short and long term. The extent to which the project can deliver good solutions and effects. Plans for the dissemination of results, knowledge, and tangible solutions developed in the project.
  • Implementation
    The quality of the project's organization, management, and resource use. The extent to which the project is well-organized, with the right expertise in the project group and partners.
  • Scientific priorities
    The extent to which the project addresses the scientific priorities of the call for applications.
    
    

  Some projects undergo extra thorough review
  
  

  • Applies to applications for more than NOK 5 million and selected projects that, in the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund's assessment, require more thorough review.
  • An online meeting will be conducted with participation from the applicant, case handlers in the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, and external experts.
  • The applicant presents the project and the case handlers and experts have the opportunity to ask questions about the application and the project.

The funds from the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund may be used as own financing when applying to other funding schemes.

The grant includes all fees and taxes, including value added tax (VAT). The grant is given as a gift. Although the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund considers grants given as gifts normally not to be subject to VAT, the recipient is responsible for complying with applicable VAT rules and must make an independent assessment.

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund cannot be invoiced or otherwise charged for additional costs if the grant recipient misinterprets VAT rules. Applicants must clarify with their auditor whether a grant will be subject to VAT.

All applications are assessed against fixed criteria on a scale from 1 to 7 to ensure fair and transparent processing.

Important application requirements:

• Relevance works as a filter: The administration first assesses whether the application is relevant. Only applications scoring 4 or higher proceed to external expert assessment.
• Minimum requirement for funding: To be eligible for support, the application must score at least 4 on all four criteria. A score of 1-3 on any individual criterion results in rejection.

1. Relevance

To what extent does the application respond to the specific call? This is assessed internally as the first step in the process.

2. Professional quality

This criterion assesses the project's professional foundation, logic and potential for innovation. Is there a clear connection between goals and planned activities? Would the measure have happened without support from the fund (additionality)? Is the concept based on documented knowledge and innovation? Does the application show a good understanding of the market and/or value chain in which the project will operate?

3. Implementation capacity

This criterion assesses the likelihood that the project can be implemented as planned. Do the team and partners have the right expertise and capacity? Is the budget realistic, credible and sufficiently co-financed? Is the progress plan realistic, and are risks handled with good mitigation measures?

4. Environmental effect

This criterion assesses the expected positive environmental benefit in relation to the application amount. What specific change will the project create, and can the solution be scaled? Has the applicant substantiated that the project will not have negative environmental impacts in other areas?

Some projects are processed in extra detail

To ensure the best possible decision basis, digital clarification meetings are held in selected cases.

• Applications above NOK 5 million: A digital clarification meeting is mandatory.
• Applications below NOK 5 million: A meeting is held only if the assessment team needs specific clarifications to make the correct recommendation.

Purpose of the meeting: The meeting is used to give case handlers answers to outstanding questions related to the application. It is not an arena for pitching or a general project presentation from the applicant.

Contact the person responsible for the call: Sjur Kvifte Nesheim
sjur@handelensmiljofond.no
+47 977 93 676