Follow-up meeting
Follow-up meeting
Presentation of the real experiments
Following the successful launch of the Plastic-FREE-sia living lab in April and the intensive exchange on strategies to reduce plastic pollution in the North Sea, a follow-up meeting was held on 25 June. In this online meeting, the results of the kick-off event were reflected on once again. Reducing plastic input into the environment is a complex challenge and requires joint action. Dr Marta Jacuniak-Suda from the Weser-Ems Regional Development Agency presented the vision of a plastic-free community. Exchange and dialogue along the entire plastic value chain plays an important role in removing barriers and tapping into potential. One key initiative is the conclusion of a "plastic pact" with interested stakeholders with the aim of reducing the use of plastic. Yannik Heisel-Sure and Gisela Kemmner from the University of Oldenburg presented three promising real-life experiments that are due to start in the near future. These real-life experiments, which can be implemented anywhere in the entire region, involve various sectors and should ideally be transferable to other regions, are the result of the joint deliberations and discussions at the Plastic-FREE-sia kick-off event on 17 April 2024. The aim of the follow-up meeting was to concretise the real-life experiments and identify voluntary coordinators.
Real-life experiment 1 - student lecturers
The idea of the real-life experiment is that children and young people should increasingly take on the task of raising awareness of the plastic waste problem in the environment. Teachers and students should train them on the topic. The aim of the real-life experiment is to establish a supra-regional network of schools, universities and city councils, which will enable educational and awareness-raising work at various levels, for example through school and city festivals or supra-regional waste collection campaigns. It would also be desirable to expand this network, for example, to include stakeholders from tourism or waste management. A link with the real-life experiment 2 (Trashbusters) is also being sought.
Coordinators of the real-life experiment Schülerdozierende are Daria Eggers [Freie Schule Friesland], Marieke Veltin [Neues Gymnasium Wilhelmshaven] and Prof Dr Ingo Mose [University of Oldenburg].
Real experiment 2 - Trashbusters
As part of Trashbusters, the waste problem is to be addressed in a holistic and coordinated manner. The coordinated waste collection/clean-up campaigns are to be supplemented at the outset by awareness-raising campaigns (e.g. by school lecturers or representatives of well-known educational institutions in the region). By involving the municipalities and the tourism sector, the Trashbusters real-life experiment aims to identify suitable areas for the campaigns and thus create a special exchange and cooperation between holidaymakers and residents. The rubbish collection/clean-up campaigns can be supplemented with cultural experiences (e.g. through subsequent concerts), rubbish collection competitions for children/young people or evening get-togethers (e.g. with free drinks) and become a more long-lasting experience. The aim of the Trashbusters real-life experiment is to create a long-term concept for all interested parties to take part in, in addition to the supra-regional co-operation. The Trashbusters real-life experiment offers the opportunity for all actors in Plastic-FREE-sia to participate and contribute to the co-operation.
Coordinators of the Trashbusters real-life experiment are Michael Kurz [City of Brake (Unterweser) citizen tenant], Yannik Heisel-Sure [University of Oldenburg].
Real-life experiment 3 - Plastic-free community
In many places, tourism is responsible for a very high volume of waste. There is an increased risk of plastic entering the water, especially in coastal and shore areas. With the help of real-life experiment 3, the vision of a plastic-free community in a region characterised by tourism is to be implemented. The exchange and dialogue along the entire plastic value chain and the involvement of relevant stakeholders from politics, administration, business and civil society play a decisive role here. For example, innovative waste and delivery concepts are to be developed and tested within the municipality. Other potential implementation measures could include the establishment of packaging-free and regional products as well as the introduction of reusable systems in the hotel and catering industry and at events. The introduction of a so-called "plastic pact" with interested stakeholders within the municipality, with the general aim of avoiding plastic in the long term, could also be an action measure. Co-operation with the two aforementioned real-life experiments is also conceivable.
Dr Marta Jacuniak-Suda [Office for Regional Development Weser-Ems] and Gisela Kemmner [University of Oldenburg] are the coordinators of the plastic-free community real-life experiment.
