Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free

This new initiative with Travel Foundation and TUI Care Foundation will bring together tourists, tourism businesses and residents across Ayia Napa, Protaras and the wider Famagusta region of Cyprus to cut consumption of single-use plastic so that less enters the waste stream.

Why? The tourism industry is engaging with the issue of plastic pollution, which is a particular threat to ocean flora and fauna. Plastics make up 95% of sea and beach waste across the Mediterranean,and the Mediterranean Sea has one of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the world, exacerbated by water circulation patterns.

Cyprus beaches are an important resource for both tourism and local wildlife. However, 80% of rubbish collected on Cyprus beaches is plastic waste.

Our approach. We will work with the tourism sector to reduce demand and consumption of single-use plastics – such as plastic straws, cups, cutlery and hotel toiletries. The project will raise awareness of the issue with residents, school children and tourists in order to reduce demand, and work with tourism businesses to change procurement practices. We will also collaborate with regional authorities to embed longer-lasting change.

The project will initially be delivered in the resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras. It will focus on reducing the amount of single-use plastics waste generated and discarded in the resorts, as well as promoting recycling.

Expected Outcomes:

 

Increased awareness of the problem of single-use plastic among 80% of residents and tourists.

 

Resorts well on their way to becoming plastic-free

70% reduction in consumption of targeted single-use plastic by tourism businesses.

 

For more information and sign up visit:  https://sandseaplasticfree.org/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SandSeaPlasticFree/