Uniting for a plastic-free Mediterranean: strategies and solutions
5th REMEDIES CLUSTER MEETING
1st April 2025
Porquerolles Island, France
In a context where plastic pollution threatens Mediterranean biodiversity and ecosystems, the 5th REMEDIES Cluster Meeting brings together key stakeholders and experts to develop and implement sustainable solutions. Hosted on the island of Porquerolles, a symbol of commitment to tackling plastic pollution, this event will highlight local, regional, and European initiatives aimed at restoring our oceans and waters. Through inspiring talks and constructive discussions, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of ‘deplastification’ while strengthening collaboration among stakeholders. Together, let us join forces for a plastic-free Mediterranean future.
Event moderator: Ambre Badiqué, project manager, SMILO
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM – Welcome speeches: Porquerolles, a territory committed to fighting plastic
pollution
- Introduction
Philippe Bernardi, representative of the Porquerolles Island Committee, municipal councillor of Hyères,
delegate for tourism, ports, and islands, metropolitan councillor at Toulon Provence Méditerranée
Metropolis (10 min)
- Metropolitan actions for plastic waste management, particularly on the island.
Maxime Prodomides, president of SMILO (10 min)
- SMILO: Supporting small islands towards sustainable waste management.
- Porquerolles as a concrete example of SMILO’s initiatives.
- Collaboration with REMEDIES for sustainable solutions.
10:20 AM – 10:30 AM – EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’: Bold Goals and Unmatched Resources for Concrete Results
Claudiane de Corbiac, project manager BlueMissionMed and coordinator of the French Hub, Ifremer (10
min)
- A European initiative with significant Horizon Europe funding for implementing concrete
innovative and transformative solutions
10:30 AM – 11:10 AM – The urgency of “deplastification”
Antoine Boudin, designer, REMEDIES ambassador in France – Keynote (30 min)
- Facing the plastic crisis: the urgent need for plastic reduction.
- Transforming Provence reed waste into plastic alternatives.
- Challenges and obstacles in adopting plastic alternatives.
Q&A and discussions (10 min)
11:10 AM – 11:50 PM – Uniting for a plastic-free Mediterranean: strategies and solutions
Vincent Rigaud, director, Ifremer Mediterranean Centre & Claudiane de Corbiac, project manager BlueMissionMed and coordinator of the French Hub, Ifremer (10 min)
- BlueMissionMed CSA: Mobilizing Basin-Scale Stakeholders to test and Scale Solutions for Phase Two of the Mission Ocean and Waters
Philippe Masset, director of Europe and international affairs, ADEME – Circe.Med (10 min)
- Mission and actions of the Circe.Med network to reduce plastic pollution.
- Contribution to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and platform for disseminating REMEDIES best practices
Vesna Kuralt, project coordinator, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia (NIC) (10 min)
- Presentation of the European REMEDIES project
Q&A and discussions (10 min)
11:50 AM – 12:40 PM – Combating plastic pollution at different scales: local and regional perspective
Southern France Region
Isabelle Poitou, director, MerTerre (10 min)
- Role and impact of the ReMed platform in the fight against plastic in the Mediterranean.
Alix Puzenat, development coordinator, Ecoscience Provence (10 min)
Southern France’s commitment to a plastic-free Mediterranean.
- Regional zero plastic waste charter and guide to zero plastic solutions.
- Local actions in Porquerolles
Anne Settimelli, director, Explore&Preserve (10 min)
- Concrete actions to protect the territory.
- Initiatives carried out in Porquerolles.
- Commitment within REMEDIES.
Jean-Marc Prieur, tourism and Esprit Parc National brand manager, Port-Cros National Park (10 min)
- Esprit Parc National brand’s contribution to reducing plastic waste.
- Usage regulations, eco-friendly products, and public awareness efforts.
Q&A and discussions (10 min)
12:40 PM – 13:00 PM – Conclusion
Summary and perspectives: Sylvain Petit, director, SMILO
