LIFE DEBAG

Title: Integrated information and awareness campaign for the reduction of plastic bags in the marine environment

Summary: Litter is a major problem for the marine environment, with plastic bags being one of the most common and persistent pollutants affecting coasts and waters. Each year, more than eight million plastic bags end up as litter in the EU. Current recycling rates are only 6.6%, which are difficult to increase because the thinness and lightness of plastic bags means they have a low recycling value. Plastic bags are blown by the wind and washed away by rain and snowmelt into rivers and drainage systems, eventually reaching the marine environment. Threats to marine life from bags, bottles and other plastic waste are due to ingestion and entanglement, causing direct physical damage and possibly toxicological harm.

Over 267 animal species are known to suffer from entanglement and ingestion of marine debris, including 86% of sea turtles, 44% of seabirds, and 43% of marine mammals. Plastic waste also constitutes an aesthetic problem in tourist areas such as natural parks and beaches. Since over 80% of marine litter comes from land-based sources, preventing the litter at the source is very important. However, an integrated approach to tackling plastic waste is lacking, and there remains ignorance of its environmental impacts. It is therefore crucial to inform consumers and to promote reusable bags as an alternative to single-use plastic bags.

The main objective of the LIFE DEBAG project is to develop and implement an integrated information and awareness-raising campaign for the prevention and reduction of plastic bag pollution in the marine environment. The aim is for this to change consumers’ behaviour.

Specific project aims are to:

• Improve the knowledge base and create awareness of the problem of plastic bag use and disposal at the national level, and to intensively inform and educate the public on Syros island;
• Ensure a sense of public ownership to build support for relevant measures;
• Improve educational efforts directed towards teachers and pupils;
• Contribute to changing Greece from a throwaway society to a sustainable society starting with plastic bags, a central and visible aspect of today’s disposable culture.

Expected results:

• Detailed understanding of the current situation in Greece with respect to marine litter;
• Design and development of a holistic, multidisciplinary educational package for primary and secondary schools;
• Enhanced knowledge and awareness on marine litter and plastic bags in particular, through an integrated communication and information campaign;
• Organisation of two annual ‘Plastic Bag Free’ weeks, consisting of different events targeting the local population, visitors and stakeholders (reaching at least 4 200 households and 30 000 persons in the Syros project focus area);
• Work on the development of a voluntary agreement by shops/retailers of Syros on handling of plastic bags;
• Creation of a national stakeholders consultation forum that will develop a list of tailored recommendations for Greece to reduce consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. The forum will also explore the feasibility of a voluntary national agreement for retailers;
• Information exchange with similar European projects;
• Reduction by 10% of plastic bag litter input from Syros to the marine environment;
• Increase in the penetration of the project’s key messages to young people through social media networks

For more information, please visit EurOcean Knowledge Gate.