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Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources & Environment

Horizon Circular Footwear

Funds €4–5M projects that make it easier to collect, sort, reuse and recycle post-consumer footwear without creating new pollution.

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Footwear is difficult to collect, sort and recycle at the end of its life. Shoes can combine many materials, treatments and components, and poor disposal sends valuable material to landfill while creating risks from chemicals and microplastics. This topic funds projects that make the whole footwear value chain more circular.

Projects can develop better collection and take-back systems, sorting an

Research and innovation for a circular footwear value chain, from consumer take-back and collection through sorting, preparation for reuse and recycling. Projects develop and test technical and digital tools, including Digital Product Passport and AI applications, alongside business models and stakeholder collaboration that increase reuse and recycling while reducing hazardous chemicals and microplastics. Activities are expected to reach TRL 4-5 by the end.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.22 Sept 2027
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€9M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-05Source: ec.europa.eu