2019-2020
This project addressed the growing pollution of the Baltic Sea and contributed to minimize pollution of the global ocean from plastic litter.
In 2017, CCB has implemented a project Plastic Free Baltic, which has significantly contributed to lifting up the agenda of microplastic/marine litter pollution in the Baltic Sea region, including the upstream catchment area.
In 2019, CCB implemented the project: “Plastic Free Ocean“ (PFO). The project activities supported the implementation of the EU Plastics Strategy and addressed the growing pollution of the Baltic Sea (and through it – the world ocean) by single-use plastic items, primary and secondary microplastics,
and associated toxic chemicals.
This was done through a combination of:
– policy-oriented measures
– awareness-raising public campaign
– monitoring activities
– assistance to identified target groups from private an d municipal sector in switching to plastic-free alternatives (hotels, rural and eco-tourism houses, airlines, cruise ships, municipal organizations, public laundries, religious organizations and others).
Read the interview of Mikhail Durkin, CCB Executive Secretary, about the project and its objectives.
According to UNEP expectations plastic production was projected to increase by up to 40 per cent over the next 10 years, which made achieving a significant reduction in marine pollution by the year 2025, as reflected in Sustainable Development Goal target 14.1, as remote as ever.
CCB believes that a voluntary phase out of MP is inadequate and an urgent EU regulatory action is necessary to treat such a complex and transboundary problem. The proposed EU Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment was agreed by the EU commission (May 2018), and adopted by EU parliament (March 2019).
The overall goal of the Plastic Free Ocean Project was to minimize pollution of the global ocean from plastic litter. Despite such ambitious goal, the project contributed to it by reaching its primary target – to reduce consumption and use of plastic in the BSR, and thus diminish plastic pollution into the Baltic Sea. Various activities being implemented within the project were aimed at reaching widest possible audience of all ages. Under the 1st project objective “To promote voluntary phase-out of plastic in different public sectors within the BSR” PFO can see the results in the increased number of initiatives from business and state institutions that avoid single-use plastic (SUP) and promote alternatives (mainly they are among bars and cafes, schools and municipalities).
The implementation of the project was contributing to fulfilling requirements of the EU Plastics Strategy in EU member states around the Baltic Sea, as well as contributing to creating a new policy agenda on plastics in non EU- Baltic countries (Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine), and thus will have a long term impact.
The project has contributed to minimization of plastic pollution of the global ocean by minimization of single-use plastic pollution of the environment and water resources in Belarus. It was done through successful contributions to policy changes, e.g. in Belarus (ban of certain SUP products), successful involvement of various organizations, who decided to voluntarily limit usage of single-use plastics in their operations, and through increased public awareness about the topic.
Final report
of the
Plastic Free Ocean project.
Government, school and other actors. Media coverage available here (can be Google-translated).
Several small cafés/restaurants in Jurmala have started replacing plastic glasses and other cutlery and utilizing outreach materials produced by Green Belt of Latvia, see overview here.
What is the world we live in and the one we are leaving behind? We have asked ourselves that question not only to raise awareness of plastic pollution today but also to reflect on our own ways of living in and within the plastic world.
We invited artists and environmental activists from several countries to discuss the problem of plastic consumption and provide its broader understanding through a multidisciplinary approach.
The “Live In / Leaving” Exhibition is created and launched within the frame of the Plastic Free Ocean Project.
Agnieszka Fiszka Borzyszkowska, PFO Project Manager:
agnieszka.fba (at) gmail.com
CCB continues to address the problem of plastic pollution and hazardous substances.
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