In Santa Cruz de Tenerife is holding the first round of the Hackathon de Ecodiseño y Economía Circular de Canarias 2026 today. The Consejería de Transición Ecológica y Energía of the Gobierno de Canarias brings together students, professionals and entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions to key waste and resource issues on the islands. The focus is on four areas: reducing single-use plastics in catering and at events; using agricultural waste as a material; extending product lifespans through repair and reuse; and ecodesign to reduce waste-intensive processes in tourism.
The Director of the Dirección General de Calidad Ambiental, Ángel Montañés, said the initiative turned circular economy planning into concrete proposals addressing the islands’ real needs. According to the regional government, experts are supporting teams throughout the day as they develop their concepts, from defining the problem to the final presentation. A jury will assess the proposals on innovation, environmental impact, feasibility and potential for implementation in the Canary Islands.
The top three teams are set to receive prize money of 750, 500 and 250 euros. A total of 3,000 euros will be awarded across the two event days in Tenerife and Gran Canaria on 3 October 2026 in Gran Canaria, with the same assessment criteria applying.
The hackathon is part of the Estrategia Canaria de Economía Circular 2021-2030 and the Plan de Acción de Economía Circular 2024-2026 of the Gobierno de Canarias. It takes account of the particular conditions of an island region: limited availability of certain raw materials, heavy reliance on imports and specific waste-management requirements. Against this background, the government presents the circular economy as a cross-cutting priority that combines environmental protection with support for innovation and regional value creation.
Specific project examples and implementation agreements are expected to be announced after the teams’ presentations. So far, the regional administration has identified reducing plastic waste, using agricultural waste as materials or business models, and closing value chains through repair and reuse as priority goals. The information is based on today’s official announcement from the Consejería de Transición Ecológica y Energía of the Gobierno de Canarias.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).