Promoting a Circular Economy with Low Plastic Zones on Mediterranean Islands

LooP Zone addresses one of the Mediterranean’s most visible environmental challenges: plastic pollution on tourist islands. Each year, over 200 million visitors contribute to a surge in plastic waste, with single-use plastics (SUPs) accounting for over 60% of marine litter. Islands such as Formentera, Salina, Skiathos, Vis, and Gozo face increasing pressure, while local waste management systems struggle to keep pace.

Focus

LooP Zone creates Low Plastic Zones where municipalities, tourism businesses, and local innovators work together to prevent and phase out single-use plastics in the hospitality sector (HORECA), both on land and at sea. The initiative aims to measurably and sustainably reduce plastic use across five tourist islands, supporting the transition towards a more sustainable and circular local tourism economy.

  • Tourism operators (hotels, beach bars, restaurants) receive tools to measure their plastic footprint and adopt sustainable, reusable alternatives.
  • Innovation-driven business models provide alternatives to conventional single-use plastic items.
  • Local policies are strengthened to support national and EU plastic reduction targets

Built on a three-pillar model – policy, business support, and innovation – LooP Zone is tested locally, shared through a digital platform, and scaled through a regional island network.

Vision

Our vision is to transform Mediterranean tourism from a take-make-waste system into a circular economy that protects both people and the sea.

LooP Zone is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Euro-MED Programme under the Sustainable tourism Priority.
The project has a total budget of €3,999,526.60.
EU Co-funding: €3,199,621.28 (80%) through the Interreg Euro-MED Programme.

Project Website: – https://loopzone.interreg-euro-med.eu/