Project duration: 01/2026 – 01/2027

Status: AWARDED

 

The Challenge

The project addresses the growing problem of plastic pollution on the island of Šipan.  During the tourist season, the accumulation of single-use plastics and marine waste intensifies. Limited waste management infrastructure and low public awareness contribute to this issue. The project aims to reduce plastic use at the source, promote responsible consumption, and engage children and residents in adopting sustainable habits. By empowering the local community, starting with pupils to understand, map, and act on plastic-related problems, the initiative seeks to create lasting behavioural change and lay the groundwork for a plastic-free island model.

 

The Solution

The grantee will work together with Tatavaka Association who started and implemented the Plastic-free Zlarin initiative. The aim of the project is to take the first step toward responsible plastic use on Šipan and the prevention of plastic waste generation, marine waste in particular. They will start doing so by educating the island’s primary school students who recognised the ecological problems of the island and emphasised the issue of waste during the Speaking Climate environmental workshop, which was held in May 2025 in partnership with Tatavaka.

 

Project Deliverables

• Two interactive workshops at Šipan Primary School for younger and older pupils
• A two-day study visit to the island of Zlarin for pupils and teachers from Šipan Primary School
• Local awareness and advocacy campaign designed and implemented by the pupils

 

Insight into the Organisation

The Šipan Academy has been active since the end of 2022, with the mission of improving the quality of life for the residents of the Elaphiti Islands. They do so through nature conservation, environmental protection, and the promotion of sustainable island development. Between 2023 and 2025, Šipan Academy organised five international workshops on: nature protection, renewable energy sources, cultural heritage revitalisation, waste management, and climate change. All of these are key challenges that the inhabitants of the Elaphiti Islands face.