CIVIL SOCIETY: 55 PRACTICES
Cigaret Cycle AMKE is a non-profit organization oriented towards environmental protection, the circular economy and sustainable development, for a waste which, due to its size, is not widely known to cause multiple pollution in the environment with impacts on humans, as well as the need to neutralize it through recycling.
The objective of #gopafree is to transform one of the world's most widespread and environmentally harmful forms of litter into a valuable resource by establishing a new model of circular management and environmental responsibility in Greece.
Through Greece's first integrated circular system for the collection, management and recycling of cigarette butts, Cigaret Cycle seeks not only to reduce urban and coastal pollution but also to inspire lasting behavioural change among citizens, businesses and public authorities, encouraging active participation in environmental protection.
The initiative brings together municipalities, businesses, organisations and local communities within a collaborative network, transforming an everyday habit into a collective act of environmental responsibility.
Its long-term ambition is to establish a scalable and replicable model that contributes to the circular economy, sustainable waste management and the creation of cleaner cities, coastlines and public spaces.
#gopafree engages everyone who can actively contribute to the transition towards greater environmental responsibility and circular waste management, creating a broad ecosystem of collaboration and participation.
Citizens of all ages are at the heart of the initiative, adopting responsible everyday habits and actively participating in cigarette butt recycling.
Municipalities and local authorities use the programme as a practical tool to improve public cleanliness, protect the environment and strengthen environmental awareness within their communities.
Businesses and organisations integrate #gopafree into their sustainability, ESG and corporate social responsibility strategies, creating measurable environmental value while engaging employees, customers and stakeholders.
Students, young people and educational communities participate through environmental education and awareness initiatives that encourage responsible behaviour from an early age.
Volunteer groups, environmental organisations and active citizens act as ambassadors of the initiative, supporting clean-up actions, awareness campaigns and community engagement.
Visitors and tourists, particularly in coastal and tourism destinations, contribute to cleaner public spaces and more sustainable tourism practices.
Rather than addressing isolated target groups, #gopafree builds a collaborative community of citizens, institutions and organisations working together to transform a simple everyday habit into a collective act of environmental responsibility.
#gopafree was launched in late 2019 and has been continuously evolving ever since through a long-term strategy focused on expanding partnerships, increasing its environmental and social impact, and strengthening its nationwide presence.
What began as an innovative initiative has grown into Greece's first integrated circular system for the collection, management and recycling of cigarette butts, continuously extending its network of partners, geographical reach and areas of implementation.
The initiative represents a long-term commitment by Cigaret Cycle to continuously improve, expand and scale its impact, creating lasting environmental, social and institutional value through collaboration and innovation.
The long-term vision of #gopafree is to establish a nationwide ecosystem where responsible cigarette butt management becomes standard practice, empowering citizens, businesses and local authorities to collectively drive the transition towards a circular economy.
#gopafree was established by Cigaret Cycle, a non-profit organisation, to provide a comprehensive solution to one of the most widespread yet underestimated environmental challenges of our time: cigarette butt pollution.
More than a recycling programme, #gopafree is Greece's first integrated circular system for the collection, management and recycling of cigarette butts. It redefines cigarette butts not as waste, but as a valuable resource that can re-enter the production cycle, while encouraging citizens, businesses, municipalities and organisations to actively participate in environmental protection.
The initiative operates through a nationwide collaborative network involving local authorities, businesses, educational institutions, cultural and sporting organisations, as well as major public events. Through the strategic installation of dedicated cigarette butt collection bins, cigarette butts are removed from the environment, collected, recorded, transported and recycled under a fully traceable process that ensures transparency, regulatory compliance and measurable environmental impact.
The operational model is tailored to the needs of each stakeholder. Municipalities integrate the programme into their environmental management and public cleanliness strategies, encouraging citizen participation and improving urban and coastal environments. Businesses and event organisers benefit from a complete end-to-end service provided by Cigaret Cycle, including bin installation, maintenance, collection, transportation, recycling and certified reporting of the quantities collected and recycled.
All collected quantities are annually reported to the Greek Electronic Waste Registry, ensuring accountability, transparency and reliable environmental performance data.
The innovation of #gopafree goes beyond recycling a challenging waste stream. It establishes a new collaborative model that connects citizens, businesses, local authorities and civil society in a shared effort to address cigarette butt pollution through circular economy principles and behavioural change.
By transforming an everyday habit into a collective act of environmental responsibility, #gopafree demonstrates that the circular economy begins not in recycling facilities but with everyday choices, creating a scalable model that delivers long-term environmental, social and economic value.
#gopafree has evolved into one of Greece's most comprehensive examples of circular economy implementation, delivering measurable environmental, social and institutional impact.
Key achievements
• More than 25 million cigarette butts have been collected and diverted from the environment, preventing pollution of soils, water resources and, in particular, marine ecosystems.
• Over 1,500 dedicated collection bins have been installed in public spaces, coastal areas, businesses, cultural venues and major public events across Greece.
• The initiative operates through a continuously expanding collaborative network involving more than 25 municipalities, 100 businesses and numerous public and private organisations, creating a nationwide ecosystem of environmental collaboration.
• Thousands of citizens participate annually in awareness campaigns, environmental education programmes and volunteer initiatives, strengthening behavioural change and encouraging responsible waste management.
Environmental impact
By systematically collecting and recycling cigarette butts, #gopafree significantly reduces cigarette butt litter in urban and coastal environments, protects terrestrial and marine ecosystems, prevents plastic pollution and supports resource recovery through circular economy practices.
Social impact
The programme's greatest achievement is not only the number of cigarette butts collected, but the behavioural change it inspires. Every day, citizens, employees, students and visitors make conscious environmental choices, demonstrating that a simple everyday action can become a collective movement for environmental responsibility.
Institutional impact
#gopafree supports municipalities and businesses in achieving their sustainability and ESG objectives by providing full traceability of collected quantities, certified environmental reporting and annual submission of data to the Greek Electronic Waste Registry. At the same time, it has established a proven and scalable collaboration model that can be successfully replicated across different communities and organisations.
#gopafree demonstrates that the transition to a circular economy depends not only on innovative technologies, but above all on collaboration, stakeholder engagement and lasting behavioural change.
The true success of #gopafree is measured not only by what has been collected, but by what has been protected and transformed.
The initiative protects natural resources, mobilises communities, strengthens environmental awareness and demonstrates that circular economy solutions can create lasting environmental, social and institutional value.
#gopafree proves that meaningful environmental change is achieved not only through innovation and infrastructure, but through collaboration, shared responsibility and the everyday choices of people.
#gopafree is implemented nationwide across Greece through a continuously expanding network of partnerships spanning urban centres, coastal and tourist destinations, public spaces, beaches, businesses, hotels, cultural and sports venues, educational institutions and major public events.
The flexibility of the model enables it to be successfully adapted to the needs of different organisations and local communities, demonstrating that circular cigarette butt management can be effectively implemented across diverse environments and operational contexts.
#gopafree is delivered through the combined efforts of a multidisciplinary team of professionals and a continuously growing network of volunteers who act as ambassadors of the initiative within their local communities.
Cigaret Cycle's team, bringing together expertise in environmental management, sustainability, communications, strategic development and programme operations, coordinates every stage of the value chain—from partnership development and the installation of dedicated collection bins to the collection, traceability, recycling and impact assessment of cigarette butts.
Volunteers play an equally important role in the success of the initiative. They actively participate in clean-up actions, environmental education programmes, awareness campaigns and community events, inspiring behavioural change and encouraging citizens to become part of the solution.
The active engagement of employees, volunteers and partners goes far beyond supporting the day-to-day operation of the programme. Together, they form a collaborative community united by a shared vision: transforming an everyday habit into a collective act of environmental responsibility.
#gopafree demonstrates that lasting sustainability is driven not only by infrastructure and operational excellence, but above all by people. For this reason, empowering employees, volunteers and local communities is a strategic pillar of the initiative and a key driver of its long-term growth and impact.
The #gopafree initiative is implemented by the Cigaret Cycle team through coordinated participation of staff specializing in environmental management, communications, strategy, and operations. The team is responsible for designing, manufacturing, and installing the collection bins, overseeing the collection process, and organizing public awareness activities.
At the same time, volunteers play an important role, particularly during awareness campaigns, beach and urban clean-up actions, and educational workshops in schools and local communities. These volunteer efforts significantly enhance the social impact of the initiative and actively contribute to the development of ecological awareness.
Cigaret Cycle’s approach promotes collective action, aiming to engage citizens, employees, and partners in a shared vision for cleaner, more sustainable public spaces.
#gopafree has not only created a cigarette butt recycling system; it has built a community of people and organisations working together every day to transform a simple habit into lasting environmental change.
The development and implementation of #gopafree has been a transformative milestone for Cigaret Cycle, significantly strengthening its role as a leading organisation in circular economy innovation, environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management in Greece.
Through the initiative, Cigaret Cycle has developed specialised expertise in managing one of the most challenging waste streams, establishing Greece's first integrated circular system for the collection, management and recycling of cigarette butts.
The programme has substantially enhanced the organisation's credibility and institutional recognition, leading to a continuously expanding network of partnerships with municipalities, businesses, cultural organisations, educational institutions and public authorities.
Participation in national and international sustainability initiatives, recognition through environmental awards and the continuous exchange of best practices have further strengthened the organisation's visibility and positioned Cigaret Cycle as a recognised reference point for innovative circular economy solutions.
Internally, #gopafree has fostered a strong organisational culture based on collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, empowering the team while creating the foundation for the development of new initiatives with long-term environmental and social impact.
Most importantly, the programme has established Cigaret Cycle not simply as an organisation managing a complex waste stream, but as a catalyst for systemic change, designing and implementing solutions that combine circular economy principles, cross-sector collaboration and lasting behavioural transformation.
