1st Year results of our partnership with the TUI Care Foundation

Menorca Preservation and the TUI Care Foundation mark their first year of collaboration with over 13,000 plastic waste items analysed and 1,393 kg of fishing nets recycled

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and PescArt Menorca consolidate their impact throughout 2025 thanks to the support of the TUI Care Foundation’s “Destination Zero Waste” programme

Menorca Preservation closes 2025 with significant progress in its mission to reduce plastic pollution on the island, thanks to the support of the TUI Care Foundation, which has been backing the Foundation’s work since the beginning of the year through its “Destination Zero Waste” programme. Over the course of the year, the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and PescArt Menorca initiatives have strengthened their impact by promoting waste reduction, circular economy and the active involvement of businesses, citizens and social organisations in the protection of Menorca’s natural environment.

To mark this first year of collaboration, the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance has also produced a summary video showcasing the main milestones and results achieved, highlighting how the engagement of the community, the business sector and local organisations is contributing to a more plastic-free Menorca.

Destination Zero Waste Menorca: Key achievements in 2025

Through one of its flagship actions — beach outings to observe, collect and analyse plastic waste — the Alliance collected more than 400 kg of waste, analysed over 13,000 items, and engaged more than 550 people. A total of 19 outings were organised with schools, the general public, third-sector organisations and businesses.

These activities enable participants to observe, collect and analyse plastic pollution directly in the natural environment. Through hands-on fieldwork, participants can see the waste present and, with guidance from a technical expert (the Plastic Free Menorca coordinator), understand its characteristics, turning the experience into live environmental awareness-raising. In addition, collecting this waste prevents the generation of secondary microplastics and reduces risks to wildlife, flora and human health. The analysis of collected materials is also essential to assess pollution levels in each area, identify the likely origin of the waste, estimate how long it has been in the environment, and observe its interaction with biodiversity — a task that requires time and specialised knowledge.

In parallel, Menorca Preservation launched the Plastic Free Beach pilot project in Punta Prima, developed in collaboration with the Sant Lluís Town Council. The initiative aims to turn Punta Prima into Menorca’s first “plastic-free” beach, serving as a reference space where multiple awareness-raising and waste reduction actions are brought together. Permanent informational signage has been installed with recommendations on how to enjoy the natural environment while avoiding plastic use, alongside information stands and educational activities.

Punta Prima also hosts one of the beach item reuse points promoted by the Alliance — an initiative launched in 2023 that now includes more than 25 stations across beaches and tourism businesses. This year, the Plastic Free Menorca team notes that “we made a particular effort to equip these points with resources, and thanks to collaboration with partner companies and organisations, we recovered over 1,500 parasols, which were then returned to circulation for beach users.”

Meanwhile, PescArt Menorca continued to grow, demonstrating that sustainability can go hand in hand with art, social inclusion and circular economy. During 2025, 5,890 kg of fishing nets were collected, of which 1,393 kg were recycled, along with 55 parasols, 19 wetsuits and 11 kg of microplastics, all transformed into new products and artistic pieces. This achievement would not have been possible without the involvement of 35 local artists and artisans.

Núria Sintes Llopis, coordinator of the PescArt Menorca project, states: “Every kilo of plastic recovered and transformed represents a story of cooperation and respect for the environment. Seeing how art, craftsmanship and circular economy come together to care for our surroundings is a great motivation to keep moving forward.”

As a new development, the first steps have also been taken towards the creation of the PlasticLab, a new initiative of the Alliance designed as an open, public space equipped with machinery to recycle plastic waste and promote circular economy on the island. During this first year, “the technical, logistical and organisational aspects needed to launch Menorca’s first plastic recycling centre have been defined,” the organisation explains. This phase has included technical advice from the 3D Manufacturing and Design Centre of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (CIM-UPC Foundation), a technology centre specialising in research, technology transfer and advanced manufacturing training. All the necessary machinery for the PlasticLab has already been acquired, and the administrative steps to locate it at CentreBit Menorca have been completed.

Branislav Mizenko, Programme Development Manager at the TUI Care Foundation, commented: “We are very proud of the impact achieved during the first year of our collaboration with Menorca Preservation. I am excited to continue working together over the next two years to support Menorca in tackling plastic pollution and developing innovative solutions.”

Destination Zero Waste Menorca: Continuing to build momentum against plastic pollution

Menorca Preservation highlights that as initiatives progress and stakeholder involvement grows, new challenges also emerge that require adaptation and joint effort.

Rebecca Morris, Executive Director of Menorca Preservation, explains: “For a small organisation like ours, continuing to innovate and expand our initiatives is as exciting as it is challenging: the further we go, the more complex the challenges become. Having the strategic support of the TUI Care Foundation — and the confidence of knowing they are walking alongside us over the long term — gives us the momentum we need to keep working and maximise both the reach and impact of the project, towards a plastic-free Menorca.”

One of the challenges addressed this year has been adapting the Plastic Free Menorca Commitment for businesses in the HoReCa sector. This initiative, created by the Alliance, supports businesses in actively committing to reducing plastic use and developing an environmental policy. Until this year, the Alliance used the Plastic Free Balearics certification and its HAPI methodology, promoted by Save The Med, to advise HoReCa establishments. However, following strategic changes by the certifying organisation, the Alliance decided to strengthen and expand its Plastic Free Menorca Commitment to include the entire business community of Menorca within a single framework.

Marta Pérez López, coordinator of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, explains: “Working with businesses to continue reducing plastic on the island is one of our priorities. When we were informed of changes to the certification, we quickly worked on adapting the Plastic Free Menorca Commitment for the HoReCa sector. This new advisory process will include a diagnostic assessment using a tool from the United Nations’ Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, followed by the development of an environmental policy committed to reducing plastic pollution on the island.”