The goal of making the Pitiusas islands a benchmark of sustainability took a new step forward this Wednesday with the celebration of a participatory workshop in the Sa Coma Island Park, where representatives of the Consell d’Eivissa, the Consell de Formentera, the island’s municipalities and the Balearic Government met to chart a joint path towards the “zero waste islands”.
The meeting, organized by Plastic Free: Alianza Residuo Cero Ibiza y Formentera and Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), is part of the project “Towards Zero Waste Islands”, promoted by the sustainable innovation laboratory (Ma) with the support of IbizaPreservation and the BeMed Foundation. The conference was aimed at identifying practical solutions to reduce waste at source, promote reuse and improve selective collection.
“Zero waste, sooner or later, is going to be the only possible path on islands with limited territories,” stressed Sofía Ribas, coordinator of the Alliance. “It makes no sense that 60% of waste ends up in landfill or incinerator. We know that other territories are achieving this; Ibiza and Formentera can also do it if we work collectively.”
In search of strategies
During the session, facilitated by MiZA experts, local institutions analyzed European success stories and discussed strategies to reduce the use of single-use packaging, prevent food waste and enhance the second-hand market.
The director of the European organization, Kaisa Karjalainen, highlighted the involvement shown by local administrations: “The institutions have shown a clear willingness to work on concrete solutions. The challenge is great, but cooperation and prevention are the keys to moving towards a zero waste model”.
The project also foresees a study trip to a European island certified with the Zero Waste seal, with the aim of learning from their experience and adapting their good practices to the Pitiusan context. At the end of the process, a report will be prepared with recommendations and priority lines of action.
The initiative is part of the 2030 vision of the Plastic Free Alliance: that Ibiza and Formentera are among the first ten islands in the Mediterranean certified as zero waste, an ambitious goal that reinforces the leadership of the Pitiusas Islands in sustainability and circular economy.
