YEREVAN, Armenia — As part of the Sweden-funded Waste Policy Armenia (WPA) program, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment is fostering innovation in sustainable waste management through the Circular Economy Challenge Fund. The Fund supports micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to pilot projects that reduce waste, promote reuse and recycling, and create measurable environmental and social impact.
“This marks the beginning of a much bigger journey for these MSMEs. Their projects can set new standards in circular practices, and we look forward to watching them generate real, lasting impact,” said Harutyun Alpetyan, WPA program manager and waste governance expert at the AUA Acopian Center.
As the implementing partner of the Fund, Impact Hub Yerevan helped MSMEs shape their ideas into real, workable solutions. “We wanted to inspire small businesses to pilot circular models that can later grow and scale,” said Gevorg Poghosyan, executive director of Impact Hub Yerevan.
Following an open call, eleven MSMEs from across Armenia were selected to participate. The businesses, spanning sectors from food production to fashion, developed creative solutions for waste reduction and resource efficiency. They took part in hands-on training sessions on circular design and business strategy, preparing for the next stage of the program.
Reflecting on the training, participants emphasized its value.“ The courses were highly educational. Our ideas became clearer. Everything was very hands-on, and through the exercises, our tasks and path forward became visible,” said Tatev Hovhannisyan of TNT Group. “When it comes to the circular economy, it’s not about one individual; it’s about the shared system that Impact Hub has made possible,” added Galine Vartanian of Galine Galine.
The program culminated in a pitching event, during which teams presented their refined solutions to an expert jury. Six initiatives were selected to receive up to four million AMD each to implement their projects, marking just the beginning of their journey toward sustainable business practices.
The winners are represented below:
- Bee Green: Produces reusable beeswax wraps, replacing single-use packaging.
- Bax’s Food: Repurposes production waste and uses recycled paper for packaging.
- Bee Planet: Implements a zero-waste apiculture model, creating new products from secondary bee materials.
- Galine Galine: Applies zero-waste techniques in fashion, transforming textile scraps into sustainable products.
- TNT Group (Paros Garden): Turns organic waste into resources while engaging the community.
- Eco Tught: Closes the loop on paper production by recycling waste and reintegrating by-products.
The Circular Economy Challenge Fund illustrates how targeted support can help small businesses scale sustainable solutions. For these MSMEs, the funding and guidance mark the beginning of a journey toward circular business models and a greener future for Armenia.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit ace.aua.am.
The Swedish-funded “Waste Policy Armenia” program is implemented by the Acopian Center for the Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia. Visit ace.aua.am/projects/waste_policy/.
