New partnership with TUI Care Foundation

‘Menorca Preservation secures the support needed to strengthen its fight against plastic pollution in Menorca for the next 3 years’’

TUI Care Foundation commits to the mission of Menorca Preservation, ensuring the continuity of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and PescArt Menorca initiatives, as well as supporting the creation of an innovative ‘Plastic Lab’ from which to promote the circular economy on the island

Menorca Preservation has secured a major commitment with the TUI Care Foundation until 2027 to strengthen much of its work focused on tackling plastic pollution in Menorca.

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance was created in 2020 with the aim of promoting initiatives focused on reducing plastic pollution on the island. Five years later, the project has promoted multiple actions, among which stand out: ‘plastic-free’ certifications for businesses in the Hospitality sector with the aim of advising restaurants, hotels and bars to comply with the current Law 8/2019, of 19 February, on Waste and Contaminated Soil of the Balearic Islands, as well as encouraging them to go beyond the minimum requirements established by law; the network of over 20 reuse points for beach items installed on beaches and in businesses; plastic collections with entities and volunteers; the later analysis and study of the waste collected; the creation of a database on plastic pollution in Menorca which is shared with international monitoring initiatives such as Ocean Initiatives or Biomedia Surfriders; and the promotion of the local circular economy through PescArt Menorca, which promotes the artistic recycling of discarded fishing nets and other plastic waste.

These actions have contributed to significant achievements such as, for example, the elimination of over 157,000 single-use plastics from the Hospitality sector in the last three years, the participation of more than 780 people in plastic collection outings during 2024, or the recycling of over 3,300 kgs of fishing nets discarded by fishermen into new economically viable products, thanks to the involvement of craftswomen and artists from Menorca, and the support of users of social entities such as the Foundation for People with Disabilities of Menorca, Caritas Menorca and the Red Cross.

Destination Zero Waste Menorca: Upcoming actions supported by TUI Care Foundation

The collaboration with Menorca Preservation is part of the ‘Destination Zero Waste’ programme, through which TUI Care Foundation promotes a circular economy where waste is eliminated and resources are circulated. The programme cultivates the mindset that waste can be reused and supports innovative and community-driven solutions to collect and upcycle plastic and other waste into saleable products. It also creates sustainable tourism experiences as well as jobs and income opportunities for local people. 

This support will allow Menorca Preservation, among other actions:

• Promote the first ‘plastic-free’ beach in Menorca through the creation of a pilot project to centralise resources such as the certification of businesses as ‘plastic-free’, the organisation of outings to analyse and collect plastics and the installation of water fountains to reduce the consumption of plastic bottles, points for the reuse of beach articles and informative posters about the impact of plastic pollution in the area.
• Support the creation of an innovative Plastic Lab: a space set up with different equipment to recycle plastic waste and a programme of workshops open to the public to promote a circular economy that includes and benefits the whole community.
• To continue to grow the PescArt Menorca initiative through the organisation of workshops, training and events, based on the exchange of knowledge and pivoting on the vital collaboration with social entities.
• Collect data to monitor plastic pollution on the island through outings with educational centres, social organisations, volunteers, plastic-free businesses and the tourism sector.
• Continue to strengthen the network of certified plastic-free businesses on the island, with the aim of reducing the negative impact of plastic pollution and continue to promote possible alternatives.

Rebecca Morris, Director of Menorca Preservation: ‘After several months of sharing issues and opportunities with TUI Care Foundation, including visits to Hospitality businesses certified as “plastic-free” by our Plastic Free Menorca Alliance and a fluid exchange of knowledge between the two foundations, we are very happy to have been able to define together with the Tui Care Foundation team an ambitious proposal to fight against plastic in Menorca. This work plan will contribute to further increase the impact of our initiatives, and will allow us to collaborate with TUI Care Foundation to continue expanding the network of people, businesses and entities committed to a Plastic Free Menorca’.

Marta Pérez López, coordinator of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance: ‘This collaboration allows us to plan actions with a time horizon of 3 years. This is very important to consolidate our initiatives and improve their impact. We will have the opportunity to implement innovative actions that can have a very important impact on the island, such as the Plastic Lab, the first ‘plastic-free’ beach or the database on plastic pollution’.

Núria Sintes Llopis, coordinator of the PescArt Menorca project: ‘TUI Care Foundation’s commitment to initiatives like PescArt Menorca is a crucial step in continuing to demonstrate that sustainability and respect for the environment go hand in hand with the circular economy. Transforming plastic waste into new opportunities not only helps to protect our environment, but also fosters local talent, green employment and social cohesion. With this support, Menorca takes another step towards a plastic-free future, leading with creativity and community collaboration.’

About TUI Care Foundation

Building on the potential of tourism as a force for good, the TUI Care Foundation supports and initiates partnerships and projects which create new opportunities and contribute to thriving communities all over the world. Connecting holidaymakers to good causes, it supports education and training opportunities for young people; promotes the protection of the natural environment in holiday destinations; and helps local communities to thrive sustainably and benefit from tourism. The TUI Care Foundation works globally and acts locally – it builds on strong partnerships with local and international organisations to create meaningful and long-lasting impact. The independent TUI Care Foundation was initiated by TUI, the world’s leading tourism business, and is based in the Netherlands.