The island of Elafonisos, Greece, has been facing decades of poor waste management, characterised by landfill and insufficient resources. Despite recent progress in sorting and treatment, the lack of environmental education remains a major obstacle, hence the need for educational initiatives to support the long-term reduction of plastic.
The Schools Without Plastics project aims to mobilise the island of Elafonisos in the fight against plastic pollution by strengthening education and awareness among schoolchildren. Building on the experience of Elafonisos Eco, which has been working for 15 years to reduce plastic use, the initiative brings together schools, families, local authorities and organisations such as the Network for Children’s Rights. Thanks to a mobile library dedicated to the environmental and health effects of plastic, pupils will benefit from a rich educational programme. Workshops led by specialist educators, the making of tote bags with island residents, the installation of a water filtration system and the distribution of reusable water bottles will encourage sustainable practices. Finally, an inventory of plastics present in the school will make it possible to measure the progress made and, if successful, to roll out this approach in all primary schools in the Laconia region.
