Santorini to Launch Plastic-free Campaign

Santorini is joining a number of Greek islands in efforts to do away with plastic and implement eco-friendly practices with the aim of safeguarding the natural environment.

Running under the motto “Plastic-free Santorini”, the campaign has the support of the Tourism Ministry, the Thira Municipality, and Lidl Hellas, and will officially launch in spring through promos at key tourist points on the island and at Athens International Airport.

Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis, Santorini Mayor Antonis Sigalas, and Lidl Hellas President Iakovos Andreanidis met recently to discuss the details of the campaign, aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need to reduce plastic waste with Santorini as its champion.

Santorini comes after other Greek islands that have launched similar initiatives, include the Northern Sporades island of Alonissos, which was awarded for its commitment to sustainable practices and policies at Stockholm’s Mediterranean Panorama for its “Alonissos without Plastic Bags” initiative; the Cycladic islands of Donoussa, Lipsi Sifnos, and Sikinos, the first in Greece, to do away with plastic straws and replace them with a bio-degradable alternative paving the way for other islands in the complex to follow suit in the next years; and Paros with its Clean Blue Paros initiative, which has garnered the support of local businesses, and is aiming to do away with a wide range of single-use plastic items, including straws, water bottles, cutlery, and plates and replace these with environmentally friendly options.

Earlier this year, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) called on tourism stakeholders worldwide to team up and join the newly launched Global Tourism Plastics Initiative aimed at reducing the amount of plastic pollution it generates with hands-on actions and deadlines.