Eco Bonus for climate action
Associations and resident communities operating in Vaasa can apply for an Eco Bonus of approximately €100–1,000 to support an event, initiative, small investment or action that aligns with the theme of the Green Leaf year. Applications for the Eco Bonus can be submitted from 3 November to 7 December 2025.
The Eco Bonus application criteria emphasise sustainability and environmental impact: projects should support green values such as biodiversity, energy efficiency, and the circular economy. The initiative also aims to encourage communality and inspire people of all ages in Vaasa to make our city greener and more enjoyable.
Timeline
- Applications are open from 3 November to 7 December 2025.
- The events, campaigns, small investments and activities should primarily take place in 2026.
How to apply for the Eco Bonus?
Please note that only associations and residents’ communities can apply for the Eco Bonus: the application must be submitted in the name of a group or an organisation with a bank account in order for the support to be granted. Eco Bonus cannot be granted to companies or limited liability companies (e.g., housing companies).
The Eco Bonus will be reimbursed against receipts. Recipients of the Eco Bonus will receive more detailed instructions on this.
The application form requires strong authentication via the suomi.fi service.
Fill in the application form here.
Note: City of Vaasa units apply for Eco Bonus using the form available on the intranet.
What is an Ekobonus action?
It can be:
- An event (for example, a park day where flowers or trees are planted)
- A small investment (for example, a planter box for a community yard)
- An initiative (for example, a neighborhood clean-up)
- An action (for example, setting up a local recycling point)
All implementations should support green values such as biodiversity, energy efficiency, and circular economy.
How are applications assessed?
Submitted applications are first reviewed by the Green Leaf working group, after which the selected proposals are forwarded to the city steering committee. The City of Vaasa will contact Eco Bonus recipients by email by the end of February 2026.
- The proposal supports the key values and goals of the Green Leaf year, such as combating climate change, enhancing biodiversity, promoting the circular economy, and strengthening community spirit.
- The application should include an estimated budget, and the idea must be feasible within the allocated range of approximately €100–€1,000.
- The idea should allow broad participation by Vaasa residents, for instance through an event or an activity.
- The assessment will also consider whether the events, initiatives, small investments or actions carried out with the Eco Bonus can be promoted, for example, through the Vaasa Region event calendar or the association’s or community’s own social media channels. See the communication guidelines below.
Communication guidelines for Eco Bonus initiatives
Events
Events funded by the Eco Bonus must be registered in advance in the Vaasa Region event calendar: https://events.osterbotten.fi/en/vaasaevents/. We recommend adding the following to the end of your event description: This event is part of Vaasa’s Green Leaf 2026, a year dedicated to doing good for the environment and the climate.
Social media channels
A visual post about the event, initiative, or activity should be shared on the association’s or community’s social media channels. When submitting receipts to the city, please also provide a link to the social media post where the event, action, or initiative was promoted or communicated to residents.
Always use the hashtags #EUGreenLeaf, #Vaasa, #Vasa on Instagram. You can also mention that ‘This event/initiative/action is part of Vaasa’s Green Leaf 2026, a year dedicated to doing good for the environment and the climate.’
This helps increase the visibility of the Green Leaf year, spreads successful ideas more widely, and inspires other Vaasa residents to get involved.