Once again education is key to understand the environmental impact of plastic
littering and how it affects public health. The educational system needs to be
rethought/redesigned at the government level, leading schools and universities to
avoid plastic, promoting discussion and change. Equally, education of policy makers
and decision-makers is considered important. In a regional and European level, it’s
important to consider ourselves as an inseparable part of the natural ecosystem,
taking up responsibility, embracing climate-friendly actions in order to prevent
harmful effects to our seas and oceans. The Paris Agreement should be seen as a
navigator to investment and financing opportunities around climate change,
strengthening the role of the private sector in taking climate action.
The private sector should invest on new business models that integrate not only
the economic but the social and environmental standards required by the society and
the government. Models such as circular economy (CE), sharing economy and blue
economy are already becoming reality, but there is a need to expand and apply those
models on traditional sectors such as food industry. The private sector could be a
pioneer and increase competition by providing guidelines for tourists and encouraging good environmental standards, such as zero waste and recycling practices.
Private companies could also be involved in deposit-return schemes, acting against
the throw-away culture and banning the multi-layered packaging that cannot be
recycled. Also, the private sector needs to play a key role in developing packaging
design, materials and technologies in line with the circular economy, which provide
sustainable solutions to valorise used plastics and thus reduce plastic waste (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation 2017).
The civil society composed of non-governmental organisations and youth-led
movements can create awareness campaigns that target different audiences at different levels. Civil society organisations can lead plastic-free events in different
scales, at neighbourhood level, or plastic-free campus on universities, creating
partnerships with private sector pursuing to pressure the governments to provide
funding and support investments towards plastic waste elimination. It is important to
create communication for high-level politicians and industry as well.
Non-governmental or civil sector organisations should lead and help establish a
platform for sharing information and supporting change makers. It is necessary to
engage communities in order to increase citizen-science and promote recycling
methods and informational campaigns (various targeted groups, from schools to
popular tourism destinations).
9.4 MEDfreeSUP Project: Tacking Single-Use-Plastic Item
Uses in the Easter Mediterranean Sea
The EIT Climate-KIC MEDfreeSUP project, kicking-off in 2020 for a 2-year period,
falls in the plastic waste prevention (PWP) approach developed by EIT Climate-KIC
eCircular programme, to enable local ecosystems to move towards reusable
9 Tackling Single-Use-Plastic Products in the Easter Mediterranean Sea: The. . .
145
littering and how it affects public health. The educational system needs to be
rethought/redesigned at the government level, leading schools and universities to
avoid plastic, promoting discussion and change. Equally, education of policy makers
and decision-makers is considered important. In a regional and European level, it’s
important to consider ourselves as an inseparable part of the natural ecosystem,
taking up responsibility, embracing climate-friendly actions in order to prevent
harmful effects to our seas and oceans. The Paris Agreement should be seen as a
navigator to investment and financing opportunities around climate change,
strengthening the role of the private sector in taking climate action.
The private sector should invest on new business models that integrate not only
the economic but the social and environmental standards required by the society and
the government. Models such as circular economy (CE), sharing economy and blue
economy are already becoming reality, but there is a need to expand and apply those
models on traditional sectors such as food industry. The private sector could be a
pioneer and increase competition by providing guidelines for tourists and encouraging good environmental standards, such as zero waste and recycling practices.
Private companies could also be involved in deposit-return schemes, acting against
the throw-away culture and banning the multi-layered packaging that cannot be
recycled. Also, the private sector needs to play a key role in developing packaging
design, materials and technologies in line with the circular economy, which provide
sustainable solutions to valorise used plastics and thus reduce plastic waste (Ellen
MacArthur Foundation 2017).
The civil society composed of non-governmental organisations and youth-led
movements can create awareness campaigns that target different audiences at different levels. Civil society organisations can lead plastic-free events in different
scales, at neighbourhood level, or plastic-free campus on universities, creating
partnerships with private sector pursuing to pressure the governments to provide
funding and support investments towards plastic waste elimination. It is important to
create communication for high-level politicians and industry as well.
Non-governmental or civil sector organisations should lead and help establish a
platform for sharing information and supporting change makers. It is necessary to
engage communities in order to increase citizen-science and promote recycling
methods and informational campaigns (various targeted groups, from schools to
popular tourism destinations).
9.4 MEDfreeSUP Project: Tacking Single-Use-Plastic Item
Uses in the Easter Mediterranean Sea
The EIT Climate-KIC MEDfreeSUP project, kicking-off in 2020 for a 2-year period,
falls in the plastic waste prevention (PWP) approach developed by EIT Climate-KIC
eCircular programme, to enable local ecosystems to move towards reusable
9 Tackling Single-Use-Plastic Products in the Easter Mediterranean Sea: The. . .
145