Green Filters: Turning Cigarette Waste into a Vision for a Cleaner Tomorrow

Junior Achievement Bulgaria proudly celebrates the remarkable journey of the student company Green Filters, led by Aleksandra Sivova from Prof. Ivan Apostolov Private English Language Secondary School in Sofia.

Their innovative approach to environmental sustainability has earned them a place in the finals of Gen-E 2025, Europe’s largest youth entrepreneurship festival, set to take place in Athens, Greece.

In 2023 a group of visionary students from Sofia embarked on a mission to tackle one of the world’s most pervasive environmental issues: cigarette waste. Their innovative solution not only addresses pollution but also exemplifies the power of youth-driven entrepreneurship. Green Filters has developed a prototype that converts used cigarette filters into activated carbon, a material capable of purifying air and water. This transformation is achieved through a chemical process involving sulfuric acid and furfural, effectively turning harmful waste into a valuable resource.

Throughout the 2023–2024 academic year, the Green Filters team collaborated with the Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. This partnership allowed them to conduct comprehensive research and validate the effectiveness of their activated carbon product, ensuring it meets rigorous scientific and environmental standards. Green Filters’ dedication and innovation have been recognised through several prestigious awards:

1st Place at JA Bulgaria’s “Rising Stars 2024” competition, surpassing 25 teams nationwide.
1st Place at the International Student Companies Expo 2024 in Kaunas, Lithuania, competing against 80 European teams. • Best ESG Company Award in the “Start-up Program by the Fund of Funds.”
1st Place at Eco Booster, a competition focused on sustainable solutions.
1st Place at JA Bulgaria EcoAccelerator project final in 2024

In 2025, Green Filters advanced their venture by joining the Beyond pre-accelerator program, organised by Junior Achievement Bulgaria. This initiative provided them with mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to refine their business model and scale their operations.

Their outstanding performance during the program’s final session secured their spot in the GEN-E 2025 startup program.

As they prepare to present their refined solution at Gen-E 2025, Green Filters exemplifies the power of youth-driven innovation in addressing environmental challenges. Their journey from a classroom project to an internationally recognised startup underscores the potential of young entrepreneurs in driving sustainable change.

Junior Achievement Bulgaria remains committed to supporting student companies like Green Filters through programs such as “Student Company,” providing practical entrepreneurship training and opportunities for youth to develop and implement innovative business ideas.