Plastic Free Menorca, an alliance between entities

Background

The Menorca Sin Plástico Alliance was created by the Foundation for the Preservation of Menorca, which realized the large number of initiatives that were being carried out on the island in the fight against plastic pollution and that it would be convenient to make a common front, coordinated and consensual. In this way, the Foundation got in touch with the rest of the entities (the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis, the GOB Menorca, the Leader Illa de Menorca Association and Per la Mar Viva) and they were working although it was not until September 2020 that they formalizes this collaboration with the signing of the agreement, where each of the five entities assumes specific commitments.

Start

The Menorca Plastic-Free Alliance is created through an agreement signed by the Foundation for the Preservation of Menorca, the Menorquin Institute of Studies, the GOB Menorca, the Leader Isla de Menorca Association and Por Mar Viva. The project started in September 2020 and has a budget of € 24,500 for the first year, although it is expected to be a project with continuity in the coming years.

Goals

The Alliance has set four objectives for this first year of work.

1. Create a certification process for small and medium-sized companies on the island that seek to reduce the use of disposable plastics. This milestone is capital, because the new Balearic Islands waste law, effective as of 2021, will force the elimination of disposable plastic products such as plastic tableware, single-dose food products or light plastic bags, among others. The Menorca Sin Plástico certification process will consist of support and technical advice in the reduction process committed by interested companies and recognition through the project's distinctive, social media and website.
2. Create a list of local vendors and businesses that offer alternatives to single-use plastic.
3. Create a guide on these alternative materials and carry out information campaigns on different specific materials in a timely manner.
4. Create and be the coordination platform for the different entities working towards a Plastic-Free Menorca.

Commitments

Regarding the commitments made by each entity, the Foundation for the Preservation of Menorca will be in charge of hiring the project coordinator and financing the first year with € 10,000. The Institut Menorquí d’Estudis through the Socio-Environmental Observatory of Menorca will define a system of indicators with the data that may arise from the project, will advise on the search for funds and collaborations and will contribute € 500 in fungible material. Per la Mar Viva, will make the network of volunteers available to the alliance for awareness actions and events. The Leader Illa de Menorca Association will contribute € 4,000 for project expenses. The GOB Menorca, for its part, makes all the information and experience of the entity available to the Alliance. The Marilles Foundation will finance € 10,000 plus the first year of the project. In a common way, all entities undertake to offer their spaces to hold meetings and work sessions, offer their own staff to carry out actions, access to computer resources and disseminate the actions carried out from the Alliance through their websites and social networks.