Plastic Free Balearics
About this good practice
Plastic Free Balearics is an anti-greenwashing tool targeting the hospitality industry, one of the biggest generators of waste. As well as taking into account European directives, regional laws and local waste management, it identifies false solutions to SUPs and promotes only “honest” alternatives. A joint initiative by two local non-profit organisations, the certification has support from public and private stakeholders and is scalable to other sectors and territories. The data generated allows for easy monitoring and comparison. It also offers unique tools such as a scientific index that measures the environmental impact of SUPs as well as a self-assessment app.
The Plastic Free Balearics certification was launched in 2021, uniting NGOs working to end plastic pollution in the territory.
Resources needed
To successfully implement the certification in the Balearic Islands the equivalent of 3 or 4 full-time employees are needed. Furthermore, some extra costs are needed to develop a marketing campaign and implement some technological improvements (App, web, INDEX).
Evidence of success
In its pilot phase between July and march 2022, 115 establishments were evaluated free-of-charge and some 76.000 33cl bottles of plastic certified as eliminated. Each company was given a report to help it reduce its environmental footprint, with 16.394 kg of plastic waste projected to be removed from the supply chain. An app has also been developed to facilitate self-assessment. All this was achieved in a few short months and thanks to co-funding from Beyond Plastic Med for the pilot.
Potential for learning or transfer
Plastic Free Balearics has a high potential for scalability and impact. Through the HAPI ( honest alternatives to plastic INDEX), the indicator created by Save The Med which scores the degree of environmental impact of single-use plastic products and their alternatives through 5 criteria: waste prevention, compliance with the law, reusability, optimization of the material and material (availability, renewability, impact on production and end of life) we have been able to build a tool that avoids the implementation of false alternatives. Likewise, the implemented methodology guarantees its replicability.
Our mission is to support others to improve their impact through preventive care at the source of the problem, responsible consumption, collaboration to achieve goals, only in this way can we build a world free of plastic waste.
Further information
Good practice owner
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