Green and circular ports for a litter-free Mediterranean

A significant portion of ship-generated waste in the EU—mostly plastics—is not delivered at ports, posing serious threats to marine ecosystems, human health, and economic activities such as tourism and fisheries. Mediterranean islands, heavily dependent on shipping, face challenges in waste minimization and management, as attention has focused more on decarbonization than on reducing plastic waste. Effective solutions require coordinated efforts among port authorities, shipping companies, and waste managers, alongside investments in greener, circular port facilities and proactive waste reduction strategies.

The overall objective of the project is to promote the development of greener and more circular ports on key Mediterranean islands by implementing sustainable solutions on ships and in port facilities. To achieve this, three specific objectives have been set:

Identify the gaps and needs of Mediterranean island ports in terms of waste management and the circular economy, through field visits and interviews with at least 20 stakeholders in 5 ports.
Develop a joint action plan for green and circular Mediterranean ports, to be presented at the European Maritime Day 2026 in Cyprus. This plan will be co-constructed with stakeholders using the DeCyDe-4-Shipping method.
Ensure wide dissemination of the project, its funding and results through an ambitious communication strategy, the publication of an open-access scientific article and active participation in the CapiMed-Islands programme.