Kilometres of plastic for Iris | 6th Edition

More than a beach clean-up: the generation of “0 Plastic Warriors” analysing the impact of plastic in Menorca

More than 2,000 young people have already covered nearly 90,000 km in the five previous editions, and this year they aim to remove one tonne of waste from nature

The environmental foundation Menorca Preservation, together with IbizaPreservation and Mallorca Preservation, announces the launch of the 6th edition of “Kilómetros de Plástico por Iris”. This initiative, operating across the Balearic Islands, seeks to spark and strengthen environmental awareness among secondary school students in order to reduce plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

This year’s main objective is to collect one tonne of plastic between all participants across the four Balearic Islands. Organised by classes from their respective schools, students will take part in outings to collectively remove litter from natural areas. In addition, as a new feature of this edition, there will be a focus on citizen science. Students will weigh and analyse the waste collected and will also record the results using the Universal Plastic (UP) app.

“After five editions that have consolidated this initiative in the Balearic Islands, in this sixth edition we wanted to place the emphasis on teamwork as a driving force to encourage new habits and raise awareness about the serious problem of plastic pollution,” says Rebecca Morris, Director of Menorca Preservation. “We want students to experience nature in a conscious and shared way, because that experience generates a much greater social impact. Along these lines, we have also refocused the use of mobile phones: beyond counting kilometres, this year they will enable students, once immersed in nature and after collecting waste, to contribute to a scientific purpose by recording and analysing clean-up data through a citizen science app. In addition, another new feature this year is that the prizes will become collective, because only together can we drive lasting change and protect the planet.”

A project committed to a generation engaged in the fight against plastic

In this way, participants will become “0 Plastic Warriors”: students eager to learn and take action against plastic pollution. To this end, once registered, teachers from participating schools will receive a digital educational kit containing audiovisual materials on key concepts such as: what plastic is, its different types, its origin, the problems it causes in nature and to our health, and what microplastics are. In addition, the 0 Plastic team, the non-profit organisation implementing the initiative, will offer the training and inspirational session “The Hidden Side of Plastic: What We Don’t Want to See” free of charge to all registered classes.

From 0 Plastic, its co-founder Alba Carbonell highlights the potential of today’s young people: “When education is combined with experiential learning, young people gain a better understanding of the problem of plastic and it helps them reflect on changing their everyday habits.”

Six prizes for the most committed classes

Another new feature of this 6th edition is the distribution of prizes into two main categories. The first, aimed at Years 7 and 8 (1º and 2º ESO), includes three prizes consisting of a kayaking excursion or an underwater photography workshop with MARE for the winning class from Ibiza and Formentera, Mallorca and Menorca. The second category is aimed at Years 9 and 10 (3º and 4º ESO) and includes three cash prizes of €1,000 towards the end-of-year school trip for the winning class from Ibiza and Formentera, Mallorca and Menorca.

The prize-giving ceremony will take place in early June, in connection with two environmental awareness dates – World Environment Day (5 June) and World Oceans Day (8 June) – in order to highlight the importance of marine conservation and the protection of the Balearic Islands.

The initiative continues to pay tribute to the memory of Iris Goldsmith, a young environmental activist and daughter of Ben Goldsmith, co-founder of the three foundations promoting “Kilómetros de Plástico por Iris”.

Teachers may register their classes via the link in the Instagram bio @kilometrosdeplasticoporiris or on the website www.0plastic.es. The deadline for submitting clean-up results and app data is 5 May 2026.