Plastic Reduction and Environmental Awareness in the Cyprus Markets

Plastic Reduction and Environmental Awareness in the Cyprus Markets

The project primarily aims to identify the problem of “Lightweight Plastic Carrier Bags” (LPCB) consumption in Cyprus, starting from the 9 companies who do wholesale supply to outlets selling fruits, vegetables, poultry and fish, all the way to consumer trends of using plastic bags. The project is also aimed at reviewing current local policies (and/or lack of) at promoting alternative solutions and raising public awareness both to consumers as well as schools of the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags and marine pollution of plastic debris.

Specifically, the project aims to:

  • Identify the 9 nine companies producing or importing LPCBs across Cyprus and their advantages in reselling them as wholesale across all supermarkets, local markets etc in Cyprus.  
  • Review existing data or produce new datasets regarding average consumption of LPCBs across Cyprus.
  • Explore opportunities to reduce the use of LPCBs while providing alternatives to retail suppliers.
  • Identify alternative solutions to the problem of LPCBs in consumer trend as a means of state implementation/
  • Observe and Record the effects of the new law put into motion on February 2023 which states that retailers will no longer be allowed to provide plastic bags to customers at the till.
  • Produce a specific syllabus concerning plastic pollution and its effects in Cyprus for schools (kindergarten, elementary, high school).