Plastic Free Menorca Fest celebrated with great success!

Over a hundred people joined the activities of the Plastic Free Menorca Fest, the environmental awareness event organised by Menorca Preservation

Talks, workshops, art and science came together in Punta Prima to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, a project driven by Menorca Preservation, and to highlight the value of the Marine Reserve of l’Illa de l’Aire.

The Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, promoted by Menorca Preservation, held the Plastic Free Menorca Fest last Saturday 27 September in Punta Prima with an excellent turnout. Over one hundred people took part in the various activities throughout a day that combined science, outreach, workshops and artistic experiences to raise awareness about the impact of plastics on our environment and the importance of protecting Menorca’s natural heritage.

The festival, which also marked the 5th anniversary of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, offered a varied programme: from plastic collections and hands-on workshops to expert talks and a market showcasing responsible alternatives.

Talks on the impact of plastics from different perspectives

Patricia Reina and Fernando Gómez, creators of the blog Vivir sin Plástico, shared how they managed to make their first plastic-free shop after 15 weeks of effort. Dr Alba Ruiz (La Fe Hospital, Valencia), coordinator of the European Uprise project on micro- and nanoplastics in pregnancy and foetal development, presented this innovative initiative which aims to monitor exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in 1,200 pregnant women and in their children’s first year of life. Researcher Juan Ceballo (University of Cádiz) explained the international project he is involved in to analyse large plastic pollution in the oceans.

The roundtable also included contributions from Beatriz Ríos (Spanish Institute of Oceanography), who presented her research on marine pollution; Débora Morrison (Palma Aquarium Foundation), who addressed the impact of plastic on marine wildlife; and Óscar García Febrero (Menorca Ornithological Society), who detailed how this issue affects the island’s seabirds.

Marta Pérez, coordinator of the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance, remarked: “Five years after launching the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance from scratch, it is a source of pride to look back and see how much we have grown and created. Being able to bring such important voices in the fight against plastic pollution to the island and hear their contributions from such diverse fields as health, marine research and public outreach has undoubtedly been one of the major achievements of this event.”

Workshops to raise awareness about the importance of preserving nature

More than a hundred people learned how to act when encountering injured marine wildlife with the Palma Aquarium Foundation, discovered local marine biodiversity through photography with OBSAM-IME and the MARE Contest, took part in creative recycling workshops with Magda Triay and the PescArt Menorca project, and enjoyed a birdwatching activity with the Menorca Ornithological Society.

“For Menorca Preservation, the most important thing is to continue giving visibility to and strengthening the environmental network that exists in Menorca. We firmly believe that the organisations we collaborate with are doing a tremendous job, and with these workshops we wanted to bring their work closer to the public in a practical way, showing how we can all play an active role in preserving our nature,” emphasised Rebecca Morris, Executive director of Menorca Preservation.

Market of organisations and proposals to move beyond plastics

The market of organisations and businesses offering creative and sustainable proposals became a lively meeting point, where the community could learn first-hand about the environmental work being carried out on the island. With local craftswomen and artists on hand, visitors discovered a wide range of alternatives to reduce plastic footprint: from solid soaps made with natural ingredients to fans crafted from recycled parasol fabrics, along with other artisanal items designed to inspire more responsible consumption.

“We are delighted to see how the circular economy is gaining more and more prominence in Menorca, and within the Alliance we believe it is essential to support all those businesses and individuals who reflect on their impact and seek ways to minimise it. The market has been an inspiring showcase of how creativity and sustainability can come together to offer us real alternatives to plastic,” said Núria Sintes, coordinator of the circular economy project PescArt Menorca, promoted by the Plastic Free Menorca Alliance.

Ocean Film Festival: screening of A Sea Full of Plastics by Enrique Talledo

Another highlight of the day was the screening of Enrique Talledo’s documentary A Sea Full of Plastics, which closed the talks by encouraging reflection on the scale of the problem. This was made possible thanks to collaboration with the Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2025, the international festival that travels the globe to inspire and raise awareness about the importance of our oceans.

Scientific illustration to raise awareness of the values of the Illa de l’Aire Marine Reserve

As part of the Fòrum Illa de l’Aire, a community participation space to promote and care for the Marine Reserve, a creative initiative brought together art, science and community. While artist Giuditta Bussetti completed a mural inspired by the Reserve, a scientific and naturalist illustration workshop led by Marga Moll introduced participants to faithfully depicting reality through the study and drawing of the sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum), a characteristic species of Menorca’s coastline with a fascinating ecological relationship with the Balearic lizard (Podarcis lilfordi), one of its main pollinators.

At the same time, the Sketchers Menorca group held an open urban sketching session. At the end, the mural, scientific illustrations and urban sketches came together in a shared space to showcase and enjoy all the works produced.

A community, local and collaborative celebration

Finally, we wish to thank especially the involvement of all the participating organisations, speakers, volunteers and attendees who made the day possible. The Plastic Free Menorca Fest has strengthened community commitment towards a common goal: moving forward to a Menorca free of plastics.

The Plastic Free Menorca Fest was held with the collaboration of the Sant Lluís Town Hall, and the financial support of Depeche Mode and Swiss watch brand Hublot, channelled through Conservation Collective, the global network of foundations of which Menorca Preservation is part.

The Fòrum Illa de l’Aire is a project promoted by Menorca Preservation with the collaboration of the Marilles Foundation, the financial support of Leader Illa de Menorca, and the technical involvement of OBSAM-IME and GOB Menorca.

The event was made possible thanks to the collaboration of numerous organisations and individuals who contributed their work and enthusiasm. MarSave, Justícia Alimentària, GOB Menorca, Menorca Ornithological Society, 0 Plastic Menorca, Palma Aquarium Foundation, Magda Triay, OBSAM-IME, the MARE Contest and the Ocean Film Festival led the different activities.

As for the talks and roundtable, Eventson provided the technical equipment and the restaurant Básico generously offered its space to host them.

We also wish to extend special thanks to Caracola Menorca Cerámica, Ireneo Consonni Creations, Tienda Apatita Holística, Alai Zimmermann, Enara Ardanaz, Cristina Pons Sabons Artesans, Yotangle and Rekandle, who contributed to bringing the sustainable proposals market to life.