Caribbean Plastic Free Campaign, Costa Rica

Beate Heycke is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Sophie Cook.

Donation protected

The CARIBBEAN PLASTIC FREE campaign was launched by Planet Conservation Association in 2018 to initiate and support efforts in the Caribbean of Costa Rica within the process of becoming a single use plastic free region.
The project aims to increase understanding of the problem among the local population, the companies, the municipality as well as local association for development and tourism chambers that already have shown their commitment
in signing an agreement with the campaign goals.

Why we are asking for your help?
Usually we fund our initiatives, campaigns, education programs and conservation efforts with our international volunteer and student travel programs. As borders remain closed we won't be able to receive any groups or individuals for the upcoming months, so the projects are in need of funding and helping hands. We believe it is important to continue with local action, beach cleanups, education programs free of charge and working with local businesses and entities to take a step forward on the process and their efforts to become single-use plastic free rather than putting this process on hold now. The environment needs this change!

Our concern is although Costa Rica and many other countries are working on laws and solutions to reduce single-use plastics, due to the emergency by covid 19 and sanitary measurements, there is a large increase in the consumption of disposable products worldwide that includes masks and gloves, plastic cups, cutlery, straws and food containers, etc. many of these end up in the streets, rivers, the sea and our beaches.

That is why it is necessary to continue with the campaign focusing on the following key factors:

- Find effective alternatives to reduce plastic pollution and replace products that can harm the environment.

- Educational programs that emphasize the importance of reducing our consumption

- Strengthening of the community and municipality with respect to their waste management system.

- Promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas

- Focus on the future of the tourism development as a key alliance to promote change.

In detail this means for 2020 we will use the funds for local actions:

- Install 4 sources of drinking water to avoid the consumption of plastic bottles (imagine 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills every day!!!)

- Build an artistic monument (elaborate turtle with a metal frame lined with plastic bottles) that allows raising awareness among locals and tourists about the impact of plastics on marine life.

- Develop a marketing and advertising plan for the campaign.

- Meeting with start-up and grassroots organizations (local governments, public and private institutions, tourism chambers, merchants) to apply the current regulations on single-use plastics reduction.

- Include the topic in the environmental education programs of the different institutions for the reduction and replacement of single-use plastic, offer (online) workshops

- Promote and follow up on solid waste management groups to include the reduction and replacement of single-use plastics in local public policies.

The background of the project:

According to The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics study (presented by the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation in 2016), plastic production is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades. The UN estimates that currently 13 million tons of plastic are thrown into the sea each year and that half of the plastic produced worldwide is for single-use items.

In 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans, 99 percent of seabirds will ingest plastic. Plastic causes ramifications not only ecological, but also social and economic. The United Nations notes that plastics can contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases, such as dengue, and are directly related to diseases due to their carcinogenic components.

Biodegradable plastic solutions alone are not the answer to reducing marine litter, as all debris must be disposed of properly. According to the managing director of PlasticsEurope, Virginia Janssens.

There is also a large consumption of food and drink delivered to restaurant and cafe chains, which use single-use disposable packaging and plastic cups where reusable cups have been banned.

In 2018, Costa Rica was the country in Central America that imported the most plastic. However, with the "National Strategy for the Replacement of Single-Use Plastics", the country committed to reducing the use of disposable plastic products by 2021. Due to the links of emissions to any stage of existence in production of plastic, efforts to decrease the use (and disposal) of plastics and the process for recycling it, take important steps to de-carbonize the country and meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

We would like to thank you in advance for your time reading this proposal and if possible for your kind support to maintain the environmental focus of the country despite the actual situation.
Please contact us for further information ! we are open to receive helping hands whenever possible again!!

Please sign our campaign as it would be fantastic to reach the support of 50.000 conscious people!!!!

Muchas gracias!!! Thank you very much!!! Vielen Dank!!!