Starting in June 2026, a new challenge will turn small everyday actions into meaningful change. Five weeks, practical missions, and an international leaderboard connecting participants from Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta. And all you need to take part is a smartphone.
We all know it: plastic is everywhere. Around 70% of European citizens recognize the need to reduce plastic waste, yet only a small percentage actually adopt more sustainable behaviours in their daily lives. It is precisely in this gap — between awareness and action — that EcoHeroes was born.
With the launch of its gamification activity, EcoHeroes officially introduces its Eco-Missions: simple, practical, and engaging weekly challenges designed to help people gradually reduce their consumption of single-use plastics and microplastics.
What is EcoHeroes?
EcoHeroes is an Erasmus+ project involving three organisations from three different countries — FICUS ETS (Italy), Walk Together (Bulgaria), and Eurodimensions (Malta) — united by a common goal: transforming environmental awareness into real action.
The challenge runs over five weeks, from June to August 2026. Every Monday, a new Eco-Mission is launched simultaneously in all three countries. Participants have 48 hours to complete the mission and up to 72 hours to submit their materials.
No special skills or previous experience in sustainability are required. All you need is a smartphone, a little curiosity, and the willingness to take part.
A Journey That Grows With You
The missions follow a progressive learning path, guiding participants from observation to action:
- Week 1 — Observe. Discover how much plastic you actually use during a normal day. No changes required, just awareness.
- Week 2 — Investigate. Learn how to read labels and identify hidden microplastics in the products you use every day.
- Week 3 — Act. Replace one plastic item with a sustainable alternative. Just one — meaningful change starts with small steps.
- Week 4 — Community. Go out, shop differently, and involve the people around you.
- Week 5 — Creativity. Collect, recycle, create, and share your story. The grand finale of the journey.
To complete a mission, participants simply carry out the activity, take a few photos, and write a short reflection. Nothing needs to be posted publicly: all materials are submitted privately to the partner organisation in their country, which may select some contributions for anonymous publication on the project’s communication channels.
Play, Earn Points, Climb the Leaderboard
Each completed mission earns points. The more consistent, creative, and community-oriented you are, the higher you can climb on the international leaderboard, updated every Monday and comparing results from Italy, Bulgaria, and Malta.
The focus is not on perfection but on participation. Simply completing a mission and submitting the required photos and reflection guarantees a base score, while a jury evaluates environmental impact, originality, and community engagement. Participants who successfully complete all five missions receive the highest bonus available in the programme.
At the end of the challenge, several recognitions will be awarded, including Top EcoHero, Top Country, Most Creative EcoHero, Most Active EcoHero, and Community Champion. These symbolic awards may be accompanied by eco-friendly prizes and visibility through the project’s communication channels.
Why Participate?
Because change is not about heroic gestures; it is about everyday habits.
A reusable bottle instead of a disposable one. A glass jar instead of a plastic container. Shopping at a local market without unnecessary packaging. Small choices that, when multiplied and shared, make a real difference.
And because it is fun. EcoHeroes is an international community, a friendly challenge, and a practical opportunity to discover how easy — and rewarding — it can be to live with less plastic.
How to Join
Participation is free and simple. Complete the registration form for your country:
- 🇮🇹 Italy (FICUS ETS): Register here
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (Walk Together): Register here
- 🇲🇹 Malta (Eurodimensions): Register here
After registering, you will receive your personal EcoHero ID (for example, IT-001), which will be used throughout the challenge.
For more information, contact info@ficusets.org and follow the project on social media:
- Facebook: facebook.com/ecoheroeserasmus
• Instagram: instagram.com/ecoheroeserasmus
Ready to join the plastic-free revolution? Your first mission is waiting. Become an EcoHero. 💚
The project “EcoHeroes: Join the Plastic-Free Revolution!” (2025-1-IT02-KA210-ADU-000349513) is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under the Small-scale Partnerships in Adult Education (KA210-ADU).
