The Nagrade za cirkularnu ekonomiju is one of the flagship initiatives of the Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub (WBCEH), created to recognise and celebrate the pioneers, innovators, and changemakers advancing the circular transition across the Western Balkans. Whether through community projects, innovative product design, cutting-edge research, or bold entrepreneurial action, this initiative highlights those who are shaping a more sustainable and circular future for the region.

Launched for the first time in 2025, it is the first regional initiative to award circular economy leadership across multiple categories, reflecting the different dimensions of circularity in practice – from civil society engagement and municipal initiatives to educational leadership, corporate innovation, start-ups, and creative design. The call, open from June to September, attracted 55 high-quality applications from all six Western Balkan economies, demonstrating the growing momentum and creativity across the region.

The jury which was composed of representatives from the Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy (IECE) and the Chambers of Commerce from each country, selected the winners in the seven different categories. The official awards ceremony took place on 15 October 2025 at the FINNO Regional Conference – Digital. Green. Sustainable. in Budva, hosted by the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro.

Winners of the Circular Economy Awards 2025

This year’s winners reflect the diversity and ambition of the region’s emerging circular ecosystem:

• Circular Start-up – Recycling Albania (Albania) – awarded for establishing Albania’s first Circular Economy Park, bringing recycling, reuse, upcycling, and education under one roof.
• Civil Society Circular Economy Award – Rilindja Gjelbër (Kosovo) – recognised for community-driven circular initiatives, including Kosovo’s first Textile Recycling Center.
• Circular Economy Education and Research Award – Brunilda Kosta (Albania) – recognised for pioneering circular economy research and education, shaping policies and empowering SMEs and institutions.
• Circular Corporate Leadership – Hemosan (Montenegro) – awarded for over 30 years of closed-loop industrial practices that prevent marine pollution and enable resource recovery.
• Innovative Circular Design – 3D Soba (Montenegro) – creators of modular outdoor furniture made from locally recycled plastics, setting new standards in circular design.
• Municipal Circular Leadership – City of Smederevo (Serbia) – honoured for its municipal leadership through waste separation pilots, solar installations, and large-scale citizen engagement.
• Circular Economy Pioneer – Radovan Nikčević (Montenegro) – awarded for his work in research, education, policy making and SME collaboration advancing circular thinking across the Western Balkans.

Because of the exceptional quality of submissions, the jury also recognised seven additional applicants as Catalysts for Circular Change, acknowledging their valuable contributions to advancing circular practices across the region. The honor went to: Maja Halilovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), BIO IDEA za odrzivi razvoj (Serbia), Magbago (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Njuppa (Serbia), Slobodan Stanic (Montenegro), Organisation for Social Innovation ARNO (N.Macedonia) and NEST (Montenegro).

Beyond the Awards: Showcasing Regional Success Stories

The WBCEH continues to promote circular leaders through its ongoing “100 Best Circular Practices” initiative, which highlights inspiring business practices and success stories from across the Western Balkans. These examples are published on the WBCEH digital platform under the ‘’Good practices’’ section and shared on LinkedIn to support learning, visibility, and collaboration.

The Western Balkans Circular Economy Hub and the Chambers of Commerce across the region congratulate all the winners and awardees for their visionary work and commitment. Their achievements demonstrate that circular innovation is not only possible but already underway and driving regional cooperation, sustainable growth, and a greener future for all.