Greenpeace’s Beach Cleanup on Mljet Highlights Adriatic’s Plastic Waste Threat

On the occasion of International Cleanup Day, Greenpeace volunteers, together with “siren” Sunčana, participated on Saturday in the cleanup of Grabova beach in Mljet National Park, which is particularly threatened by plastic waste, the organization reported on Sunday.

In their statement, they wanted to “highlight the alarming pollution of the Adriatic with plastic and call for accountability from companies that put large quantities of single-use plastic on the market.”

“In addition to the cleanup itself, an examination of plastic waste will be conducted to determine which companies are most responsible for the absurd amounts of single-use plastic polluting the sea. Cleanup actions and waste examinations are also being organized in other countries, such as Spain, France, Indonesia, and the Philippines,” Greenpeace stated.

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Mihaela Bogeljić, head of Greenpeace’s campaign, stated that beach cleanups are necessary to remediate the damage already done, but emphasized that it is a “Sisyphean task” if plastic use is not reduced.

“This battle on Adriatic beaches has been ongoing for years, but despite the extraordinary efforts of locals and volunteers, it seems we are slowly losing this race against time, as evidenced by the disturbing sight we encountered at Grabova beach,” Bogeljić highlighted.

Scientists estimate that 1,455 tons of plastic are already floating in the Mediterranean, making it one of the most endangered marine areas, which is why the Island Movement has joined the fight to protect the sea from plastic.

Maja Jurišić, head of the Island Movement initiative, said that such actions are necessary because it is important to raise awareness among every individual in the community, especially residents of coastal areas and their guests, about the importance of caring for the environment, reducing plastic waste generation, and regularly cleaning affected areas.

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“By producing and using plastic, we are poisoning the sea and all living beings in it that potentially end up on our table. The cycle is closed, and when we think about it, we are ultimately eating our own waste. It is high time we realize that only by taking our own responsibility, continuous education, and encouraging individual actions can we make the much-needed change. Who will do it if not us?” she said.

Greenpeace calls on citizens to sign a petition against single-use plastic and to read the report “Mediterranean Buried in Plastic,” which shows that up to 80 percent of marine waste globally is plastic. With this campaign, they aim to influence European legislation to adopt effective measures to combat marine pollution by plastic.

Since its arrival in Croatia, Greenpeace has led campaigns for sustainable fishing, against TE Plomin C, and oil exploitation in the Adriatic as part of the “SOS for the Adriatic” coalition, as well as for the use of renewable energy sources. With a recent solar tour in Istria, Greenpeace has launched a campaign promoting renewable sources in tourism, focusing on the use of solar energy in the Adriatic.