The National Institute for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development( Universidad ORT Uruguay ) has opened registration for “Hacé Circular el Futuro 2026,” a contest for ideas on waste, the circular economy, and climate action aimed at students from public and private educational institutions in Uruguay.
The initiative has s in collaboration with the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP), which will provide technical support in evaluating proposals and offer thematic guidance to participants.
The contest aims to have students identify a problem related to waste and propose an innovative, viable, and sustainable solution that helps improve waste management and promotes the circular economy as a tool for climate action.
Who can participate
This call for applications is intended for students who, in 2026, will be enrolled in the 3rd year of Upper Secondary Education (EMS) or the equivalent technical high school program at the University of Labor of Uruguay (UTU).
Participation is on an individual basis. Minors under the age of 18 must submit authorization from a legal guardian, while adults must attach a photograph of their ID card.
How to Submit the Proposal
Each project must be submitted as a video of up to three minutes, hosted on YouTube via a public or private link. The submission must explain the problem identified, its connection to climate change, and the proposed solution.
It should also address the expected environmental, climate, and social impacts; the feasibility of implementation; the necessary resources or stakeholders; and the potential for replication. The sources used should be listed at the end of the video.
The guidelines allow participants to use generative artificial intelligence tools to explore ideas, organize information, improve writing, or develop supporting materials. In such cases, participants must indicate the tool used, its purpose, and the prompt or instruction entered, in addition to verifying and validating the information using reliable sources.
Evaluation and Awards
A jury convened bythe Universidad ORT Uruguay will evaluate the proposals based on four criteria: presentation, innovation, impact, and alignment with the principles of the circular economy and sustainable development.
The first-place winner will receive an 80% scholarship, and the second-place winner will receive a 50% scholarship.
Both scholarships may be applied to any undergraduate degree program at the Universidad ORT Uruguay, in accordance with the conditions set forth in the guidelines.
As part of the process, an optional virtual workshop will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 , at 4:00 p.m. A recording will be available on the website afterward.
Registration will remain open until January 20, 2027, at 11:59 p.m., and the winning entries will be announced on February 8, 2027.
Circular Economy and Climate
Given its focus on waste management, the circular economy, and climate action, the competition is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to address global challenges by 2030.
In particular, the initiative relates to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, as it promotes proposals related to resource use and waste management, and to SDG 13: Climate Action, as it requires participants to analyze the relationship between the chosen problem and climate change.