Final Concepts & Highlights

See the concepts students developed, and relive the Grande Finale through photos and video. 

From Challenge to Concept: Student Solutions for Zero-Waste Events

During the National Hackathon Circular Economy 2026, more than 650 students from 12 vocational, applied sciences and research universities across the Netherlands worked together on one central challenge submitted by PreZero: how can we make events truly waste-free?

Throughout an intensive hackathon week, students explored circular solutions for festivals, sports events and other large-scale gatherings. Supported by coaches, experts and thematic workshops, they developed their ideas into concrete concepts, ranging from systemic circular models to behaviour-driven interventions.

The week culminated in the National Final, where 11 finalist teams presented their concepts to an expert jury and a research jury. On this page, you’ll find the winning ideas, an overview of all finalist concepts, and highlights from the finale.

We are grateful to all students, coaches, jury members, and partners who contributed to the National Hackathon Circular Economy 2026. Your energy, creativity, and commitment made this week truly inspiring.

The winning concepts

Hup naar the Hub! - HAN University of Applied Sciences

Winner - Best Idea

The concept introduces a circular camping system based on deposits and reuse. Festival visitors pay a deposit for their campsite and rented camping equipment. When leaving the campsite, materials are returned via two central hubs:

  • Hub 1 is for undamaged items that can be reused directly - visitors receive their full deposit back.
  • Hub 2 is for items that are damaged or need repair — visitors receive a partial deposit, while the materials enter a repair or refurbishment process.

Items that can no longer be reused are upcycled, ensuring materials stay in the loop as long as possible.

According to the jury, the strength of the concept lies in rewarding positive behaviour, embedding repair services, and paying close attention to “the small details that make a system work in practice.”

The winning idea will be further developed together with PreZero Nederland.

The expert jury selected Hup naar the Hub! as the best idea for its strong systemic approach to circular camping at festivals.

Eeuwige Trouw - Gilde College

Winner - Best Research Concept

The best research concept award went to Eeuwige Trouw, a behaviour-focused intervention aimed at improving waste separation at sports events, developed with PSV and PreZero in mind.

The concept plays on the well-known PSV motto “Eeuwige Trouw” - not only as loyalty to the club, but also as long-term commitment to materials and resources. By involving players and trainers as role models, visualising waste separation behaviour through screens on bins, and adding a competitive element between clubs, waste behaviour becomes visible, social and motivating.

If waste separation scores exceed a certain threshold, the financial benefits are allocated to youth teams, turning waste separation into a shared responsibility and a positive incentive. If this threshold is not exceeded - financial benefits will go to the opponent. 

The research jury praised the team for placing ownership and behavioural insight at the heart of the concept, and for designing an idea that can evolve through real-life application. The concept will be further explored within education and research through the Research Platform Circular Economy.

Announcement: the 2027 case

Next year’s National Hackathon Circular Economy will focus on a new real-life challenge from FWS and Verpact:

“How can we turn used beverage packaging into valuable products again?”

The focus will be on packaging outside the deposit-return system, exploring new circular value chains and applications. The challenge was introduced to the students during the Grande Finale of the 2026 Hackathon by Elke de Roos of FWS.

We are already looking forward to seeing as many inspiring and innovative ideas as this year’s edition!

All finale concepts

Below, you find all the concepts that were presented during the Grande Finale of the National Hackathon Circular Economy 2026.

Park-Party-Pillow - HvA

Students Engineering - Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Park-Party-Pillow offers a sustainable and iconic alternative to the tens of thousands of plastic tents that are left behind as waste on festival grounds each year. These modular shelters are made from recycled materials, including used banners and decorative fabrics, giving new life to resources that would otherwise be discarded.

Each unit is unique, carrying its own colorful character and story shaped by its previous use. By transforming festival waste into functional, reusable accommodations, Park-Party-Pillow combines circular design with practical innovation. The concept aims to reduce environmental impact while providing festival visitors with a distinctive and responsible way to stay overnight.

Team T-Shirt Swap

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

Festival crew shirts are often used only once and then discarded. This concept proposes a reversible, multi-use shirt with removable labels, allowing the same garment to be used for years across different events. 

By standardising sustainable workwear for festivals and event organisations, this solution reduces costs, improves the festival's image, and makes life easier for organisers, all while promoting circularity in event clothing! 

"Zijn wij nu echt kampioen?" (Are we really champions?)

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

When are you a true champion? When you know how to sort your waste. This concept gives materials a specific shape and color, making it easier for users to sort items into clearly marked bins. 

By visually guiding waste separation the idea increases recycling rates, reduces processing costs, and helps preserve valuable resources. Inspired by the PSV-motto "Unity is Strength", proceeds from the deposit system go to the PSV Foundation and local initiatives, combining circular action with social impact. 

CupQuest

Yuverta Tilburg

Drink up, return your cup! 

CupQuest turns returning reusable cups into a game. Instead of simply handing in their cup, visitors throw it into designated holes in a “game wall,” earning points for each successful return.

By making the return process playful and competitive, the concept encourages responsible behaviour and increases cup collection rates at festivals. At the same time, it supports event organizers in efficiently retrieving reusable cups, combining fun with circular impact.

Van Bakje tot Beter

Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

Food containers used at events often end up as residual waste because of leftover food, even when the packaging itself could be recyclable. This concept proposes 100% biodegradable food containers that can be processed together with organic waste (GFT) after use.

Instead of becoming mixed waste, the containers and food remnants are composted and returned to local farmers as valuable compost. In this way, single-use packaging is transformed into a circular solution that benefits both the event and the surrounding region.

Badge your Base

Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

Many visitors leave their tents behind at festival campsites. This concept encourages a stronger sense of ownership by allowing visitors to personalize their tents with unique flags.

By adding a personal touch, each tent becomes recognisable and truly “yours.” The idea is that increased emotional attachment reduces the likelihood of tents being abandoned, helping to decrease waste and keep festival campsites cleaner.

Rent-a-Tent

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

At festivals, 20–25% of tents are left behind, creating hundreds of thousands of kilos of waste each year. Rent a Tentoffers a circular solution: visitors rent a quality two-person tent on-site and pick it up from a personal locker. During the festival, the locker can also store valuables.

Users take a photo of the tent before and after use through an app, reinforcing responsibility and ensuring the tent is ready for reuse at the next festival. The concept reduces waste, lowers the barrier to sustainable choices, and saves festival go-ers money and effort.

Cup Chain

Avans University of Applied Sciences Breda

At the annual King’s Day celebration in Breda, this concept turns reusable cups into a fun and practical solution. Visitors hang their cups on a wearable chain after use, keeping them hands-free and visible.

The cup chain encourages responsible behaviour by making waste separation playful and collectible. This simple intervention reduces litter, increases cup returns, and supports a cleaner festival environment.

Team Prullenbak

Students Event organization - Firda

This concept introduces an interactive and playful waste solution designed to make recycling more engaging, especially for young people. The smart bin uses a sensor to detect plastic and only opens when plastic waste is presented. When an item is deposited, the bin responds with a light effect and plays a recognizable meme sound, creating a surprising and enjoyable user experience.

The transparent design allows users to see what’s inside the bin, reinforcing proper sorting. In addition, the project explains why items such as plastic cups should be disposed of correctly rather than left on the ground. By combining technology, humor, and education, the Interactive Meme Bin aims to raise awareness, encourage responsible behavior, and contribute to a cleaner environment.

 

National Finale Highlights

A week of hard work and creativity culminated in the Grande Finale, where students presented their ideas to expert and research juries. Below you can find photos from the finale. 

Video: the Grande Finale - by To The Point

During the Grande Finale, To The Point - the youth platform of Nederlands Dagblad - joined us to capture the energy of the week and the experiences of the students themselves. Watch the video below!