Keeping Plastic out of the Mediterranean

As of June this year, Searious Business, with the support of the Fondation Primat, will begin working on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, reducing its plastic footprint. The project is part of the Plastic Waste-Free Islands (PWFI) initiative launched by the IUCN in 2019 as part of its global Close the Plastic Tap Programme. The overarching goal is reducing plastic waste generated on small islands and stopping its eventual leakage into the ocean.

Cyprus

According to an IUCN report, Cyprus accounts for less than 1% of the total plastic leaked into the Mediterranean sea. But compared to the Mediterranean average of 38 kg per capita a year, Cyprus generates a surprisingly high 106 kg per capita of plastic waste. This high waste generation combined with an inefficient waste management system inevitably results in marine leakage. The island lacks its own recycling system, and unfortunately, the majority of this waste ends up incinerated or as landfill. Marine plastic has been identified as coming from the packaging, tourism and fishing industry, with tourists responsible for 11% of plastic pollution. Assessing these areas will be the project's focus, where Searious Business will develop ways to recycle and reuse the waste plastic generated.

Building an action plan

Searious Business will be focusing on creating a national action plan for the tourism, fisheries and waste management sectors. They will develop a waste-to-product solution on the island together with the relevant stakeholders. Together with Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) and ‘Together Cyprus’, they will work with local hotels and tourist outlets to advise and encourage sustainable tourism. Finding ways to reduce single-use plastic and introduce reuse systems. They will also collaborate with Enaleia, a social enterprise working with fishers in Cyprus and Greece to make the marine ecosystem sustainable. They will encourage fishermen to remove plastic from the sea and turn recaptured waste into innovative products to be used on the islands.

A crystal-clear future

Cyprus is an ancient society steeped in history, enriched with beautiful landscapes which tourists flock to every summer. Plastic has no place on these sun-drenched beaches, among the parasols and windsurfers. By changing the fate of the plastic waste streams on the island, we will reduce leakage into the sea, leading to healthy coastal ecosystems and safeguarding Cyprus’ future. If you are interested in getting involved in the project, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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