TOWARDS A PLASTIC FREE ARCHIPELAGO – a community of plastic free islands

The aim of this project is to create and maintain a collaboration between local actors and municipalities of Croatian islands who fight to reduce plastic pollution. The approach of the association is global, multi-generational and region-wide.

To achieve this goal, the project is based on 3 axes:

• Connecting and raising awareness of local actors to change their behaviour. On the International Plastic Bag Free Day, the association launched the Plastic Free Archipelago (3 July 2021), with the signing of a charter by the representatives and participants of the field initiatives “Plastic Free Zlarin” and “Plastic Free Krapajn”. They comitted ban plastic in their establishments. The participation of influencer Domagoj Jakopovi? Ribafish gave visibility to the event, which was attended by more than 130 children and their parents. During this meeting and throughout the year, Tatavaka created and facilitated participatory awareness-raising workshops for children and adults (art workshop, exhibition on traditional handcrafts, beach cleaning with schools, restoration of traditional buildings).

• Advocacy work with tourist offices directors, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the presidents of the municipal councils of the islands of Zlarin and Krapanj and representatives of the Council for Sustainable Development of the island of Zlarin to facilitate the transposition of the European directive 2019/904 on the reduction of single-use plastics into Croatian law. These meetings took place partly online and allowed them to coordinate their activities and relay their efforts.  They are contributing to the implementation of this directive by drafting best practice guide since the end of 2021. Another report has been written on waste management, diagnosing the local situation and the main issues.

• Forming a broader alliance involving different Croatian archipelagos. These networking activities took place online with the support of SMILO (Small Island Organisation). Several online meetings between different Croatian initiatives resulted in confronting their views on the problem of plastic pollution, sharing the challenges they face, and exchaning solutions.