9.3.1 Stakeholders Mapping and Problem Identification
The project team chose four tools from the EIT Visual toolbox for system innovation, problem definition and stakeholder mapping in all project countries
(De Vicente Lopez and Matti 2016). Below, the stakeholder mapping for the
Greek case and the corresponding methodology is presented.
Nailing down the problem and identifying its different components and details
has been the first objective of the research team, which aimed at arriving at a
common ground for future actions towards the reduction of marine litter in the
seas of South Europe. The use of the Pentagonal problem tool (Annex 9.1) identified
the key dimensions related to this problem and facilitated the understanding of that
complex and multidimensional challenge, which extends to climate change, societal,
economic, resource and technical challenges. The common climate change challenge
is linking the generation of marine litter with emissions from the collection and from
sound waste management. Regarding the social and economic challenges for all
locations, reducing littering especially during touristic seasons and managing the
negative economic impact on tourism and fisheries emerge as priorities for all case
studies, with non-existing recycling infrastructure on the islands of Milos and
Andros being an additional challenge to overcome. Funding is another key aspect
in terms of resources that drives the response velocity of the Greek islands in
confronting the marine litter problem.
A significant number of stakeholders are involved in the plastic litter issue. To list
and categorise the myriad of stakeholders around the project, the Actor tree canvas
tool (Annex 9.2) was used. The common ground and the common challenge to
develop a Roadmap for Plastic Free southern European waters led to the identification of 14 common stakeholder groups, from fishermen, tourists, citizens and startups related to maritime to policy makers, NGOs, researchers, universities and
schools, foundations, shipping companies and plastic and recycling industries.
Specifically, a key stakeholder in the island of Milos seems to be a raw material
extracting company.
The building of a stakeholder profile was allowed by the Enlarged empathy map
tool (Annex 9.3) by quickly browsing the sources of information available to any
individual. Its great value lies in the delivery of a clear and accurate profile of the
stakeholders. Mostly affected by the plastic pollution of the seas are the fishermen,
while the biggest polluters seem to be the tourists and big companies, which benefit
other key stakeholders (e.g. local maritime industry, SMEs). Finally, policy makers
seem to play a key role in preventing or perpetuating the issue.
Lastly, in order to identify the interdependencies among the core players in the
plastic industry, the Interest-Influence-Adaptation map tool (Annex 9.4) was used,
which demonstrated where stakeholders stand when evaluated against the same key
criteria and compared to each other. In all Greek case studies, policy makers are
ranked medium to in all three key criteria (e.g. interest, influence and adaptation),
being an undeniable key stakeholder in this challenge. Besides the high interest and
adaptability to change of fishermen, they have limited influence on the issue, being,
thus, dependent on more influential stakeholders, such as the municipality, or in the
case of Andros the tourists.
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The project team chose four tools from the EIT Visual toolbox for system innovation, problem definition and stakeholder mapping in all project countries
(De Vicente Lopez and Matti 2016). Below, the stakeholder mapping for the
Greek case and the corresponding methodology is presented.
Nailing down the problem and identifying its different components and details
has been the first objective of the research team, which aimed at arriving at a
common ground for future actions towards the reduction of marine litter in the
seas of South Europe. The use of the Pentagonal problem tool (Annex 9.1) identified
the key dimensions related to this problem and facilitated the understanding of that
complex and multidimensional challenge, which extends to climate change, societal,
economic, resource and technical challenges. The common climate change challenge
is linking the generation of marine litter with emissions from the collection and from
sound waste management. Regarding the social and economic challenges for all
locations, reducing littering especially during touristic seasons and managing the
negative economic impact on tourism and fisheries emerge as priorities for all case
studies, with non-existing recycling infrastructure on the islands of Milos and
Andros being an additional challenge to overcome. Funding is another key aspect
in terms of resources that drives the response velocity of the Greek islands in
confronting the marine litter problem.
A significant number of stakeholders are involved in the plastic litter issue. To list
and categorise the myriad of stakeholders around the project, the Actor tree canvas
tool (Annex 9.2) was used. The common ground and the common challenge to
develop a Roadmap for Plastic Free southern European waters led to the identification of 14 common stakeholder groups, from fishermen, tourists, citizens and startups related to maritime to policy makers, NGOs, researchers, universities and
schools, foundations, shipping companies and plastic and recycling industries.
Specifically, a key stakeholder in the island of Milos seems to be a raw material
extracting company.
The building of a stakeholder profile was allowed by the Enlarged empathy map
tool (Annex 9.3) by quickly browsing the sources of information available to any
individual. Its great value lies in the delivery of a clear and accurate profile of the
stakeholders. Mostly affected by the plastic pollution of the seas are the fishermen,
while the biggest polluters seem to be the tourists and big companies, which benefit
other key stakeholders (e.g. local maritime industry, SMEs). Finally, policy makers
seem to play a key role in preventing or perpetuating the issue.
Lastly, in order to identify the interdependencies among the core players in the
plastic industry, the Interest-Influence-Adaptation map tool (Annex 9.4) was used,
which demonstrated where stakeholders stand when evaluated against the same key
criteria and compared to each other. In all Greek case studies, policy makers are
ranked medium to in all three key criteria (e.g. interest, influence and adaptation),
being an undeniable key stakeholder in this challenge. Besides the high interest and
adaptability to change of fishermen, they have limited influence on the issue, being,
thus, dependent on more influential stakeholders, such as the municipality, or in the
case of Andros the tourists.
9 Tackling Single-Use-Plastic Products in the Easter Mediterranean Sea: The. . .
141