Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)
European Commission
European Commission, EuropeAid - Co-operation Office, SWITCH-Asia Programme
Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH
Partners
Partners
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
BlackForest Solutions
CEGESTI – Fundación Centro de Gestión Tecnológica e Informática Industrial
Econnexions
Landbell AG
Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
Parley for the Oceans
Socya
Stenum Asia
The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)
The Maldives National University
Tunis International Centre for Environmental Technologies
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Universität Rostock
University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad
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More than 150 million tons of plastic currently pollute our oceans, with an additional eight million tons being added each year. This primarily results from the disposal of single-use plastic packaging. This staggering influx equates to the continuous dumping of one garbage truck of plastics into the ocean every minute, with projections indicating a doubling of this rate within the next two decades. Alarmingly, 80% of marine litter originates from land-based sources, with overproduction of plastics and single-use items exacerbating the issue. Lost fishing gear, littering, and deficient local waste management practices further compound the problem, perpetuating the cycle of pollution.
Once in aquatic ecosystems, plastic items undergo weathering and degradation, breaking down into microplastics that are ingested by marine organisms. These microplastics not only disrupt marine ecosystems but also pose significant risks to human health. They act as carriers for pathogens, spreading viruses and other microscopic organisms globally. Despite heightened awareness of the detrimental impacts of marine litter, tourism remains a significant contributor to plastic pollution, particularly in coastal areas where tourism establishments heavily rely on single-use goods and packaging.
The consequences of this pollution extend beyond environmental degradation, affecting local communities and economies. Moreover, the health implications for both humans and ecosystems cannot be overlooked, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive waste management strategies. While international initiatives such as the "Regional Plan for Marine Litter in the Mediterranean" aim to address plastic pollution, waste generation continues to escalate, necessitating concerted efforts across sectors to curb this alarming trend. Effective waste management practices are essential in mitigating the impacts of marine litter and safeguarding the health of our oceans for future generations.
The PROMISE project: Safeguarding the Lakshadweep Sea and fighting marine litter
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The tourism industry is vital to the economic prosperity of the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and South India, but it also bears significant responsibility as a major source of marine litter. The "Prevention of Marine Litter in the Lakshadweep Sea" (PROMISE) project was launched to protect the still intact ecosystems of the Lakshadweep Sea. PROMISE aims to reduce marine pollution along the coasts of India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
PROMISE is implementing a variety of measures to achieve this goal:
Mapping and analysing the causes and impacts of marine litter along the coasts of Lakshadweep.
Supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in tourism clusters in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India to implement waste minimisation strategies and improve access to finance for these measures.
Strengthening the policy framework for waste management in coastal areas, contributing to the reduction of waste volumes and pollution in all three target regions.
Developing and launching the "Lakshadweep Zero-Waste Alliance" to promote a zero-waste initiative.
Raising awareness among a broad network of stakeholders about waste prevention measures.
Link Headline
Prevention of Marine Litter in the Lakshadweep Sea bordering the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka
Together with its partners, adelphi research is actively involved in the PROMISE project to reduce waste in the tourism sector. The focus is on recycling single-use plastics and properly disposing of unavoidable plastic waste.
and over 20 technical advisors have been trained in waste minimisation measures
Number (or token)
300
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MSMEs in the tourism sector
Description
have implemented waste minimisation measures
Number (or token)
150
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Policymakers
Description
have been sensitised on marine litter prevention
Number (or token)
1
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Lakshadweep Zero-Waste Alliance (LOWA)
Description
established as a sustainable initiative
Number (or token)
50
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Employees
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of financial institutions have been sensitised to zero-waste business cases
Number (or token)
100
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MSMEs
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supported in accessing green financing
Number (or token)
1000
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Tons of waste
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collected and recycled through beach clean-ups
Number (or token)
3000
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People
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(including tourists and citizens) have been sensitised about marine litter by involving them in beach clean-ups
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PROMAR: Championing a circular economy in the Caribbean
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) is supporting the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis and the British Virgin Islands in reducing the amount of plastic waste entering the Caribbean from inland sources.
The PROMAR project implements circular economy pilot solutions to measurably reduce the input of plastic waste into the aquatic environment. The aim is to mitigate waste streams in the Caribbean while championing circular economy solutions. The project also raises awareness of the importance of marine litter prevention and contributes to the preservation of the region’s valuable ecosystems. Activities will be carried out simultaneously in all participating countries, with additional efforts focused on replicating successful strategies and engaging in policy dialogue in other Latin American and Caribbean nations.
In collaboration with project partners CEGESTI, Socya, Parley for the Oceans, and UNEP-CCS adelphi research takes on the role of overseeing overall project management. The project's activities in participating countries are structured around four work packages:
Monitoring waste generation and analysing material flows.
Implementing pilot measures to introduce circular economy models and developing a comprehensive toolbox (PROMAR BlueBox) for deploying best practice methods.
Supporting transnational political dialogue and facilitating the introduction of extended producer responsibility systems in project countries.
Raising awareness in society and conducting educational outreach through various events and disseminating project outcomes.
The results of the material flow analyses depict the status quo of marine litter along the coastlines of the Caribbean Sea. PROMAR improves access to methods, systems, and procedures for the implementation of plastic waste prevention and reduction measures in the target regions and industries through capacity building and awareness-raising initiatives.
In addition, adelphi research and its project partners actively contributed in the negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty.
Turning the tide: TouMaLi's sustainable waste management combatting tourism-induced marine litter in North Africa
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The BMUV-funded project "Contribution of a Sustainable Waste Management Systems in the Tourism Sector to the Protection of Marine Ecosystems", or TouMaLi for short, aims to mitigate tourism-related marine pollution in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia while advocating for circular economy solutions. The project strives to minimise, recycle, and reuse tourism-generated waste to sustainably reduce marine and beach pollution. At the same time, it seeks to enhance awareness and capacity-building among local stakeholders, including hotels and communities.
Understanding the problem is the first step towards a solution. TouMaLi does not only identify litter in pilot regions through beach litter monitoring, but also strivesto find effective and practical ways to address it. To this end, three TouMaLi waste recovery centers are slated for construction, alongside the diligent integration of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems in pilot regions. By addressing problematic waste at its source, TouMaLi aims to restore the pristine beauty of the Mediterranean coastline, ensuring enjoyment for both locals and tourists alike.
Quotable
Evita Hegmann
Quotable description
Analyst at adelphi research
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The TouMaLi project is implementing the following measures:
Conducting an inventory of marine pollution stemming from tourism waste through beach litter monitorings.
Developing a comprehensive strategy for waste management.
Undertaking sensitisation and capacity-building efforts through training and knowledge transfer.
Establishing an institutional platform for managing financial and material flows (Extended Producer Responsibility)
Hosting national and regional workshops to foster discussions on potential solutions.
Disseminating project results and activities to enhance awareness and capacity-building efforts.
In collaboration with the University of Rostock, the leading project partner, and eight other organisations, adelphi research is actively contributing to the development of a comprehensive strategy for waste management and waste reduction.