Plastic-Free Festival
2023
SPEAKERS
PHYSICAL PARTICIPANTS
COLLABORATIONS
WHY PRIORITIZE
PLASTIC-FREE FESTIVAL AND GÖKÇEADA?
Less than 10% of plastics produced annually are recycled, and 95% of marine debris in the Mediterranean is plastic. In 2021, Turkey became the country that left the most plastic waste in the Mediterranean, with 144 tons of plastic waste daily. Due to tourism, the amount of plastic waste is reported to increase by 40% during the summer. Gökçeada is one of the regions negatively affected by intense tourism due to its natural beauty. It is also Turkey's largest and the world's fourth most water-rich island.
Positive Transformation with Plastic-Free Businesses
Kaş and Gökçeada
Kaş and Gökçeada are two districts negatively affected by intense tourism due to their natural beauty. This project was designed by the Impact Circles Foundation to support local businesses in Kaş and Gökçeada to eliminate single-use plastics, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3, SDG13, and SDG14). Organization partners include GEF, SGP, UNDP, and TCEF.
The Plastic-Free Festival took place on June 17, 2023, in partnership with The Purest Solutions and the Impact Circles Foundation to raise awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastics and encourage businesses to reduce or completely eliminate their usage. Throughout the festival, various talks were held with leaders from different sectors on topics such as Sustainable Fashion and Impact, What Happens When Birds and Bees Disappear, Managing Your Impact, and Sustainability in Gökçeada, evaluating the impact of plastics on ecosystems. Workshops such as Minimalism and Zero Waste, Composting, and Plastic Upcycling were also conducted to showcase practical waste-free living practices.
Gökçeada, being the world's fourth most water-rich island, is the starting point of our festival. With projects and investments in renewable energy, waste management practices, and the protection of natural resources, the island can transform into an environmentally conscious society. Respectful production and tourism practices that honor soil, water, and air can lead to socio-cultural development and self-sufficiency in Gökçeada. Through the Plastic-Free Festival, we aim to:
