The use of single-use plastic was an issue for Zlarin. They were costly for business owners and would have visual impacts on the island when discarded. The first goal was thus to reduce single-use plastic items in particular and plastics in general. The plastic-free initiative came from the association Tatavaka and a group of people who started the idea through cultural activities
Becoming a plastic-free island
What is the project?
Zlarin participated in the Adriatic Plastic Challenge with the project of becoming a plastic-free island. The initiative’s name, ‘Za Zlarin Bez Plastike’, means they are going towards this objective.
Project: ‘Za Zlarin Bez Plastike’ – Zlarin
Place: Zlarin, Croatia
Thematic: Waste
Partners:
Zlarin – Zlarin Tourism Board (Croatia)
What ARE the objectiveS?
- Zlarin becoming a plastic-free island.
- Reduce the use of plastic bags, disposable cups and other plastic disposable items
- Increasing social media attention for awareness and help
- Reducing Cigarette butts waste on the island
- Implementing sustainable solutions on the island
How?
- Replace single-use plastics, with reusable cups, and a tax to return. These items were distributed to business owners.
- Small ashtrays were distributed for free in the tourist office. It was always voluntary, with workshops, projections, etc. They also organised actions to pick up cigarette butts, etc.
- Implementation of education programs to raise awareness and teach sustainable practices
- Business owners taking on the initiative for “Zlarin is going plastic-free”. Helping transmit the messager to locals
- Sustainable solutions were implemented on the island, reducing plastic waste’s negative impact.
POSITIVE IMPACTS
- Sustainable solutions were implemented on the island, reducing plastic waste’s negative impact.
- The initiative got people engaged in protecting their island and decreased the associated costs for business owners.
- Through this initiative, they also revived the local association Tatavaka; they can now lead new projects and support people in creating new sustainable initiatives.
- Zlarin can now be an advocacy example to encourage other locations in Croatia to choose more sustainable alternatives.
LINKS OF INTEREST
For more information, please refer to pgs. 31-33: