60 to 80% of marine debris comes from land and among the most common are plastic materials, which have a disastrous effect on marine biodiversity.

With the “Responsible Summer” pilot project, we will promote the collection and recycling of used plastic packaging, giving them a new lease of life by transforming them into new products.

The initiative will go through beaches and pharmacies from north to south of the country, allowing the Portuguese to give the best use to their packaging of sunscreens, creams, and shampoos, among others.

There are more than 200 participating pharmacies where the Portuguese can leave their packages.

As for the beaches, the initiative will include Salgueiros beach in Vila Nova de Gaia, Frente Azul beach in Espinho, Mira beach in Mira, Pedrogão beach in Leiria, Carcavelos beach in Cascais , the beach of Santo Amaro, in Oeiras, the beach of Vila Nova de Milfontes, in Odemira, the beach of Nazaré, in Nazaré, the beach of Quarteira, in Loulé, and the beach of Monte Gordo, in Vila Real de Santo António.

This is a joint initiative of Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa (ABAE), SVR, Lazartigue, Laboratório da Paisagem, Ecoibéria, Sirplaste, Neutroplast e PIEP – Pólo de Inovação em Engenharia de Polímeros, responsible for the different stages of the plastic value chain throughout the process.

With this pilot project, the entities reinforce their concern for the environment, promote the circular economy and demonstrate that the end of a package’s life can be the beginning of the life of another product.