A publication you shouldn't miss : successful solutions to plastic pollution on Mediterranean islands

Above all, this publication has aimed to give you hope and inspiration - probably because that’s what this writting has given me.

Being a journalist working in the field of environment and plastic pollution doesn’t make me feel optimistic every day. I am constantly reading new reports, each worse than the previous one. I often go back to the same beach, river, hill, to find roughly the same quantity of plastic waste - and sometimes even dead animals - and wonder how my efforts could possibly change anything. There are some challenges that seem in- tractable. How can you encourage the largest manufacturers in each sector to choose a healthy Mediterranean over profits for shareholders? How can you trigger significant change in plastic reduction when the most powerful plastic lobbyists openly state their intention to produce more of it? How can you challenge the lack of education among so many people? How can we change the economy and its indicators to protect life?

But there is hope. Hope from projects that work. Hope from amazing people.

During these interviews, I have been surprised by the number of project coordinators encouraged by the positive response they have had after bringing together people from all sectors, from business owners and hotels to schools or even shipping companies. This means that many people are open to change if you approach them with humility, integrity, and the right tools.

I’ve been amazed by the imagination of project coordinators in inventing something that has never been done before, be it a certification, legislation, action plan or an alternative to plastic items.

I’ve been impressed by the capacity of citizens and NGOs in organising themselves to counterbalance the shocking lack of consistent policies on plastic pollution.

I’ve been shaken by the situation in Southern Mediterranean regions.

I’ve been comforted by the way young Mediterraneans are pushing boundaries.

I’ve been reassured by the way this project has put collaboration at its core while communicating with existing Mediterranean initiatives.

Finally, I am happy to be writing these final lines with the conviction that collaboration, imagination, empathy and integrity are the key ingredients for change.