Application

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Thank you for participating in The Alliance Prize in Circular Solutions for Flexibles. We recommend reading all requirements before you begin.  

Portions of your application may be published on this website. The remainder will be shared with others during the evaluation process. All applications must be submitted in English. This provides consistency across all entries during our review process and reduces the risk of translation error or misinterpreting an application.  

The “View Application” links at the top and bottom of this page allow you to review your application as it will appear upon submission. When you have completed all requirements, you can submit your final application. At that point, you will no longer be able to make changes. The Application Status on your dashboard will confirm submission. You will not receive an automated email confirmation.

You must submit your application no later than Tuesday, August 23, 2022 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

A. INTRODUCTION

Offer a brief and compelling overview of your proposal. Avoid using jargon, abbreviations, or language that a layperson may not understand.

Solution Title (10 words)

Provide the title of your solution. Choose a name that easily identifies and distinguishes your solution.

Solution Description (50 words)

Provide a summary description of the solution you are proposing to support circularity of flexible films found in household waste, resulting in the extraction of the highest value of fit-for-purpose recyclates from flexible plastics. This should be a stand-alone statement that does not require any other context to clearly explain what you propose to accomplish. Focus on delivering a compelling overview so that the Evaluation Panel members assigned to score your application will want to read more.

Technology Readiness Level (Radio Buttons)

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) are a type of measurement system used to assess the maturity level of a particular technology. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) uses the TRL adopted by the European Union (listed below). Provide the estimated technology readiness level for the technology behind your solution. We anticipate that most of the solutions submitted will be at TRL 6 and above.  

• TRL 1 – Basic principles observed
• TRL 2 – Technology concept formulated
• TRL 3 – Experimental proof of concept
• TRL 4 – Technology validated in lab
• TRL 5 – Technology validated in relevant environment
• TRL 6 – Technology demonstrated in relevant environment
• TRL 7 – System prototype demonstration in operational environment
• TRL 8 – System complete and qualified
• TRL 9 – Actual system proven in operational environment

Technology Readiness Level Narrative (150 words)

Describe why you selected the Technology Readiness Level in the previous section. Provide supporting statements that back up your selection. What work has been done up to now on this technology? If applicable, what further research, development, and testing is needed before the technology is ready for commercialisation and implementation at full scale?

B. YOUR TEAM

The following information is required to capture a basic understanding of the leadership, structure, vision, and capabilities of the people working on this proposal. While individuals, government agencies, or AEPW member companies may not apply, they can serve as partners as part of a team so long as no government agencies or AEPW members directly benefit from the prize.  

Should you receive this prize, you must designate a Lead Organisation that would be responsible for taking accountability for those award funds, as well as providing the direction, control, and supervision for the solution. You identified your Lead Organisation during registration. If your Lead Organisation has changed, please select Edit Registration Form from the Profile menu to update the Lead Organisation information.

Team Collaboration

‍Does your team consist of two or more organisations with an executed contract or memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) signed and dated by all parties, including the lead organisation submitting this proposal?

• Team consists of two or more organisations, but there is not a formal, executed contract or MOU in place.
• Team consists of two or more organisations that have an existing formal, executed contract or MOU in place.
• Team does not consist of two or more organisations.

Partners (200 words)

Name each partner and describe the relationship between the parties. If you do not have any partners, enter “Not Applicable.”

Capabilities (250 words)

Describe your or your team’s skills, capacity, and experience to deliver the proposed solution. Be sure to include core competencies and how they apply to your solution, any relevant past solutions or experience, and any other additional details that support your ability to deliver.

Biographies of Key Staff (300 words)

For each of the top three key staff members who are responsible for the success of the solution, please provide a name (First/Last), affiliation, title for the affiliated organisation (if applicable), and a brief biographical statement. The biographical statements should briefly emphasise the credentials and experiences which are most relevant to the solution.

C. YOUR SOLUTION

Solution Overview (300 words)

This section provides the opportunity for you to more fully explain how you intend to advance systemic circular design. Be sure to emphasise how your approach aligns with the four criteria that will be used to assess each valid application (see Scoring Rubric).  

Describe how your solution delivers a novel, practical approach to support circularity of flexible films found in household waste, resulting in the extraction of the highest value of fit-for-purpose recyclates from flexible plastics. Such solutions can stem from business model, design, or value chain intervention. They may also address certain components in the mix of waste, or be holistic in nature. How does it meet the goals of The Alliance Prize in Circular Solutions for Flexibles? How are you improving, building upon, and/or scaling an existing product or technology? Describe the baseline and specific changes you intend to make.

Solution Impact (300 words)

Share your projected value, measurable results, outcomes, and processes for measuring, tracking, and evaluating metrics to demonstrate immediate effectiveness of your solution (within five years), as well as any anticipated recurring and/or long-term impact on plastic waste (within ten years and beyond). How does your solution compare with current industry standards and best available practices? Present any internal or formal academic evidence, including results from complementary or previous work. If necessary, you may reference external sources. Use brackets and numbers to indicate relevant references [#], which you can clarify in the External References section below.

Overall Reduction of Plastic Waste (150 words)

Describe the anticipated increase in volume recycled during the implementation of your solution within the two-year project period, within the first five years, as well as within ten years and beyond. Include the total estimated kilotons of waste to be eliminated annually (kt/year).

Types of Plastic Waste (150 words)

Define the specific types of flexible film addressed by this solution. Specify the breakdown of the type of each plastic to be eliminated in the total listed above.

Other Impact (200 words)

Describe the environmental footprint of your solution, as well as any social, economic, and other impact you anticipate from the implementation of your approach. Include quantifiable metrics whenever possible.  

Scalability (300 words)

Describe your ability to scale your solution, and evidence that your results can be replicated. Include the anticipated costs/investment and length of time needed to scale. Explain how you will tailor and adapt your solution for scaling and/or amplifying impact in diverse geographies and localities. You may reference external sources.  

Innovation (200 words)

Share how your approach will more efficiently and/or more effectively lead to the intended outcomes, and how it differs from, improves upon, and/or bolsters existing systems, methods and/or practices. Highlight any unique features and any other information demonstrating creativity and innovation in your solution.

Visual Representation

Please upload a PDF that contains drawings, illustrations, schematics, or other visual representations of your solution. If available, a process flow diagram showing system inputs, outputs, and flows between major process components can help the Evaluation Panel to better understand your proposed approach. You must upload a single PDF file that does not exceed 10MB or five pages. The PDF should not simply be a bullet-point summary of your solution. While the PDF may contain some additional text explaining your solution, it should not be used to circumvent word counts on this submission. If it does, your submission will be disqualified.

Location of Current Work (100 words)

List the location(s) where you and/or members of your team have implemented work relevant to this prize. List these by continent (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America) then by country, state/province, and/or city, as applicable.

Location of Future Work

Where do you plan to implement your solution if you receive this award? Select up to five locations (country and state/province) that apply. If your work is national or regional, please select locations that best represent the work your organisation does. These locations may or may not be the same as the locations where you are currently implementing your solution.  

Location of Future Work – Region / Continent

Select the region(s) and/or continent(s) where you plan to implement your solution should you receive this award. You may select more than one.

• Africa and Middle East
• Australia and New Zealand
• Europe
• North America
• North Asia
• South and Central America and Caribbean
• South and Southeast Asia

Geographic Detail (150 words)

The menu options above may not fully capture the scope of your current or future work. Please use this field to provide any additional context that may be helpful in understanding the locations in which you are working or plan to work. If not applicable, enter “N/A.”

Regulatory Engagement (150 words)

Do you foresee needing to engage with or depend on local governmental authorities in the location(s) above to implement your solution? If yes, describe whether contact has already been established and the level of support currently provided. If not, enter “Not Applicable.”

Integration (200 words)

Explain how you’ll build upon and integrate within the real-world systems and/or technologies that currently exist. Show your efforts to understand both current local conditions that these systems represent and a future state that includes the projected benefits that you plan to deliver.

Intellectual Property (150 words)

Explain who owns the intellectual property (IP) of your proposed solution, and the permissions you have to use existing products or technology. If you are part of a team, indicate which team members own the IP. Describe how you will make the use of any IP for the purposes of scaling, replication, and/or expansion of your proposed solution during the two-year project period.

External References (250 words)

If you included external references [#s] above, provide more detail here. If not applicable, please insert “Not Applicable.”

Other Considerations (150 words)

This is your final opportunity to raise any other considerations. You may emphasise or expand upon a previous point or provide new information, as necessary.

D. SOLUTION PLAN AND BUDGET

Solution Plan (250 words)

Provide a narrative description of your plan for implementing your solution. It should contain critical tasks in a strategic sequence over two years. Your solution plan should correspond to other descriptions of your budget below. This is your opportunity to explain the specific steps that you will take to achieve success.  

Budget Narrative (250 words)

Please offer a general overview for how you would use the award. Your budget narrative description should include, in broad terms, total solution needs by category. You may include any explanations of existing resources that you have secured.  

Budget

Please provide a detailed budget for how the $3 million award will be spent over the two-year project period. Please make sure that any funds identified in this table reflect and clarify your general explanations provided in the budget narrative above.  All budgets must total $3 million for proposals to be eligible.

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Total Projected Costs

Share the total cost to implement your team solution (in US dollars); this can include costs beyond the total amount of The Alliance Prize award.

Excess Cost Narrative (150 words)

If the total cost to implement your solution exceeds $3 million, explain how you plan to fund the remaining costs. Otherwise, enter “Not Applicable.”  

Financial Sustainability (150 words)

How will you establish a sustainable funding base for your solution over time? If you feel your approach does not require recurring financial support, please describe why this is the case.

Barrier Assessment and Risk Mitigation(200 words)

‍Describe any barriers to success of the initiative including internal as well as external political, technological, and social factors as well as any unintended consequences, and your plan to address those barriers. Discuss your experience and capacity to manage them.

Resources Required to Scale (150 words)

Explain any additional costs and/or resources required to scale your solution beyond this award. If applicable, describe any potential to leverage additional resources to scale, expand, and/or replicate your solution.  

E. VIDEO PRESENTATION

You are required to submit a video that captures your solution and why it should be funded. The video is an opportunity to showcase your passion and pitch your story in a succinct format. Share your vision with the judges in a way that is different from the written proposal format. This DOES NOT need to be a professionally produced video; video shot on a smartphone is acceptable.

In order to complete this part of your application, your team will upload a short digital film using YouTube. Set the Privacy Settings on your video to Public or Unlisted – do not set them to Private. Video submissions should follow these guidelines or else it will render the application ineligible:  

• 90 seconds in length maximum.
• Your pitch must be in English, or if in another language, subtitled in English.
• Your video must be captioned. See instructions here on how to caption YouTube videos.
• Your video should not contain any images of identifiable children (under age 18) without express parental consent.
• Your video should not include any copyrighted material (including, but not limited to, music) for which you do not have a license.

Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:

• Introduce yourself and your organisation(s) and/or team.
• Explain your solution and what is unique about it.  
• Explain how you will know that you’ve achieved success.
• Do not simply read a slide deck; instead, try to connect with your audience—the Evaluation Panel members.

F. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

In this section, please provide additional information about the Lead Organisation. Note that there is no limit to the budgetary size of the Lead Organisation. However, public charity Applicants should consult their attorney or accountant to determine whether accepting an Award would jeopardise their public charity status.

Lead Organisation Tax Identification Number

Please provide any identification number provided by the Lead Organisation’s taxing authority (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service).

Annual Operating BudgetWhat is the annual operating budget in US dollars of the Lead Organisation?

• Less than $1 Million
• $1.0 to 5.0 Million
• $5.1 to 10 Million
• $10.1 to 25 Million
• $25.1 to 50 Million
• $50.1 to 100 Million
• $100.1 to 500 Million
• $500.1 Million to $1 Billion
• $1 Billion +

Use of Award Funds

Please indicate your understanding of prohibited uses of award funds.

I understand that award funds cannot be used for lobbying, private benefit, or direct financial benefit to AEPW member companies.  

• Yes
• No

G. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED

If you are selected for any further investigation into your capacity to receive an award via The Alliance Prize in Circular Solutions for Flexibles, then you may be required to provide additional information to The Alliance to End Plastic Waste and/or any designated representative. That information includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• A Tax Determination Letter, such as a 501(c)(3) organisation.
• Articles of Incorporation, Charter, or similar documentation.
• Audited Financial Statements
• Existing policies, if any, addressing conflicts of interest, whistleblower, internal controls, anti-money laundering, intellectual property, code of conduct, ethics, gifts, and any similar policies governing the organisation(s) directly involved in the proposed solution.