Plastic pollution is one of the biggest growing threats to the Cyclades, with toxic impacts on humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment as a whole. Millions of tons of plastic are discarded each year with a very small percentage of it getting recycled, most of it ending in dumps and seas.

In Greece, the situation of plastic pollution is especially catastrophic in the Cyclades Islands due to vast tourism which generates extreme levels of waste during the summer, and the almost non-existent recycling services in the islands.

A new law adopted by the European Parliament regarding the “banning of single-use plastic by 2021” came as an opportunity for residents and tourists on the islands to contribute to the reduction of plastic waste, reconsider daily plastic consumption and management routines, and reposition these within the circular economy model.

Children are the ideal starting point for initiating such new approaches. They are not only the future guardians of the planet but are also instrumental in influencing their social environment (teachers, families, friends). 

So, the main objective of the project ME AND MY PLASTIC is to introduce more “plastic-free behaviors” within the circular economy model, through:

A.) Educating on the “history” of plastic in an easy and playful way, by discussing its various uses, how these have out of control and what citizens should do about it.

B.) Informing school communities of the new environmental legislation, so that they comply with EU management waste policies and are informed about the single-use plastic products that will gradually be banned by 2021.

C.) Encouraging the adoption of new daily routines within a reduced ecological footprint and introducing a sustainable waste consumption and management attitude through the 4R concept (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle).

To this end, we are very proud to support the development of an integrated Environmental Education and Awareness program consisting of:

The publication of a Greek children’s book, with our partner Nefeli Publishing House 

Learn more about the book here, or purchase the book here. 

The development of an Environmental Education Project, with its pilot implementation taking place in a selected number of schools in the Cyclades with our partner Opus Culture. 

All primary schools of the Cyclades are invited to join the program for free and to obtain copies of the book for their school libraries. Contact our partner OPUS CULTURE here to learn more.

Find educational material in line with our book for teachers here.