The world is changing and Ibiza since the 1950’s has always been a front runner. The island has a strong magnetism from which creative power arises.
One of the enormous challenges today is how to consciously change people’s habits of using plastic produce and what to do with all the garbage that can’t be properly recycled.
World Clean Up day last year, was the 23rd of September and 700 volunteers from Ibiza and Formentera cleaned up 3.5 tons of solid waste. Most of the materials found on the beaches were cigarette butts, water bottles, beer cans and soft drinks, plastic wraps, hygienic wipes and as always micro plastics which can be small pieces up to 2.5cm.
Sense Plàstic Ibiza and Formentera is a consolidated movement that started in 2018 and is promoted by the Foundation for the Conservation of Ibiza and Formentera (IPF).
More than 20 local and non-profit organizations aim to preserve the environment of the Pitiusas Islands, focusing on the serious problems of plastic pollution.
Plastic Free Ibiza and Formentera collaborate with the international NGO #breakfreefromplastic, which is a global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in September 2016, nearly 1,900 organizations from across the world have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. These organizations share the common values of environmental protection and social justice, which guide their work at the community level and represent a global, unified vision.
Ibiza and Formentera have set a real big goal to eliminate single use plastics by the year 2023, which is right around the corner.
Sense Plàstic in Ibiza and Formentera has launched a new Business Certification campaign with the motto: Do you already have your star? Inviting all the leading and innovative companies in the HORECA sector, to start eliminating and reducing single-use plastics to protect the environment of the island.
The companies who have joined the Plastic initiative
Horeca is an acronym for HOtels, REstaurants and CAfeterias. This term was created in the Netherlands. Horeca is used in the marketing ecosystem to refer to a specific target audience, as in management and commercial actions of a specific market segment.
Here’s the list you can find on internet: https://plasticfree.es/certificacion-ibiza-y-formentera-sin-plastico/certificacion-empresas-ibiza/
The beauty of Ibiza is spectacular. The beaches, the pine trees, the breezes and all the wonderful scenery will certainly become even more impressive when we collaborate to clean up and preserve our wonderful islands.
Ibiza La Bella Verde Eco-Catamaran
Another action that’s taking place in Ibiza and Formentera is: La Bella Verde eco-catamaran, one of the world’s first solar powered ocean clean-up catamarans. Ibiza ramps up the initiative to clean up plastic in its waters.
Two organisations, the IBi Foundation and Ibi Free Life have funded the purchase of a La Bella Verde catamaran, fitted with an ocean clean-up system to take to the seas.
The Ibi Foundation clean up boat has been fitted with a unique cleaning system that will collect and remove floating plastics from the waters surrounding Ibiza and the rest of the Balearics.
With local eco-tourism pioneer, La Bella Verde operating boat charters around Ibiza for the past five years, it has already set high eco credentials.
Whilst there is a committed aim for Ibiza to become free of single-use plastic by 2023, the sea around it still needs help.
A robust net structure is suspended beneath La Bella Verde’s 100% emission-free eco-boat, which cleans as it goes along.
It’s an operation that’s harmless to marine life and all the recovered plastic is then safely disposed of by local waste processors.
Volunteers are welcome to enjoy a day of sailing, to help clear up the ocean and helping the two organisations raise awareness of the threat to the local marine ecosystem.
The campaign Eivissa Stop Plàstic – Consell de Ibiza
And lately the Consell de Ibiza launched the campaign Eivissa Stop Plàstic to encourage all the citizens of the island to join the fight against plastics, to reduce their consumption and contribute their bit to turn Ibiza into an island free of single-use plastics.
The initiative Eivissa Stop Plàstic proposes that you take a photo or make a video (less than 1 minute) where you show how you have incorporated into your life any of the three «R», you know: Reduce, Reuse or Recycle.
If you upload your photo or video by applying one of the three «R» to the social networks and tags to Eivissa Stop Plastic, the Consell de Ibiza has a gift for you. You can pick it up at the Department of the Environment of the Consell de Ibiza, which is on the third floor of the headquarters.
To tag your images and videos in Facebook and Instagram use @eivissastopplastic, and in Twitter @ibzstopplastic.
So the clean-up movement is growing and we can all help to keep Ibiza and Formentera in pristine shape. The love you give is the love you get! Beatles forever 😉
