Target Groups
Community – Public Authorities – Entities
Pillars
Prevention – Zero Waste
Type of Litter
Beach Litter
Goals Achieved Towards a Plastic-Free Future
Small supply chains and valorisation pathways
Partners involved: SMILO Island Committee, municipality of Hyères, Metropole Toulon-Provence-Méditerranée, Port-Cros National Park, local associations & NGOs, private sector (bars, restaurants, vineyards, fishermen, yacht club)
Porquerolles belongs to Hyères islands archipelago and is part of Port-Cros national Park. It is a very popular touristic destination. It hosts a rare biodiversity, wild landscapes and a rich historical heritage.
Tourism is the primary economic activity. There are several small stores, restaurants and hotels. There are vineyards, fruit and vegetable crops. The island is an important place for leisure-boating.
The seasonal activity adds pressure to water scarcity. Ships transport fresh water from the mainland to meet the water supply needs on the island. Tourism also puts pressure on waste management. Wastewater is treated in a water treatment facility and discharged in a lagoon, before being re-used for agriculture. During high season, the water treatment facility capacity is usually exceeded. Concerning waste, awareness-raising campaigns take place every year to encourage tourists to bring back their own waste to the mainland, and to promote waste sorting. The island is subject to strong winds and has a dry vegetation, which make it very vulnerable to fires. To preserve the sea grass meadows of Posidonia, anchoring boats are regulated.
The tourist limitations will lead to more sustainable use of water and decrease water scarcity (Water Intensity Use Index) by approximately 40%. The objective is to establish Porquerolles as zero-waste destination. The installation of 2 water fountains will reduce the quantity of plastic bottles imported and used on the island. No more burning of green waste – fire risk reduced by 50%.
Porquerolles island is part of Port-Cros national Park. The island’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity are protected and activities are regulated. The island is engaged in the Sustainable Island Labelling process of SMILO and is part of this international community of small islands. Porquerolles has a dynamic Island Committee, a local governance body gathering all the stakeholders involved in the sustainable management of the island. This committee facilitates the implementation of experimentations and innovations, such as the activities implemented within the REMEDIES project.
Since 2021, the National Park and the city of Hyeres decided to limit the number of visitors during summer, a great opportunity to reduce the pressures of tourism on Porquerolles’ environment.
Inputs
Green waste management scheme
Installing a water fountain for refill and more sorting containers
Elimination of single use plastic items
Support a micro-industry line for the production of alternatives from local green waste
Studies for improved plastic waste management
Trainings and awareness campaigns on zero waste practices and plastic use reduction
Outputs
- Reduce to 6.000 daily visitors during the high season
- Design locally >4 reusable and sustainable items in island shops and restaurants
- Decrease by 60% single-use plastic items
- Deploy zero-waste solutions in 5 early-adopter shops
- Save 20.000 kg of single-use plastics per year
Location
South-East of France
Basic data
12 km2 area, 200 inhabitants, ~1M tourists each year; Port-Cros National Park and Pelagos Sanctuary
