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 is part of the Hyères Islands archipelago and belongs to Port-Cros National Park. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its rare biodiversity, wild landscapes, and rich historical heritage.
Tourism is the island’s primary economic activity. There are several small shops, restaurants, and hotels, as well as vineyards and fruit and vegetable farms. Porquerolles is also an important destination for leisure boating.
Seasonal activity significantly increases pressure on the island’s limited water resources. However, the island is now connected to the mainland via an underwater pipeline, ensuring a continuous and reliable water supply. Moreover, water consumption is closely monitored to prevent excessive use and ensure sustainability.
In addition, tourism also places considerable strain on waste management. Wastewater is treated at a dedicated facility and discharged into a lagoon before being reused for agriculture. Nevertheless, during peak season, the facility’s capacity is often exceeded, posing additional challenges. To mitigate waste-related issues, annual awareness campaigns are organised to encourage tourists to take their waste back to the mainland and to promote proper waste sorting.
Furthermore, the island is highly vulnerable to fires due to strong winds and dry vegetation, increasing the need for preventive measures. In an effort to protect the delicate marine ecosystem, regulations on boat anchoring have been implemented to safeguard posidonia seagrass meadows.
Porquerolles Island is part of Port-Cros National Park. Its marine and terrestrial biodiversity are protected, and activities on the island are regulated. Porquerolles is engaged in the Sustainable Island Labelling process of SMILO and is part of this international community of small islands.
The island has a dynamic Island Committee, a local governance body that brings together all stakeholders involved in its sustainable management. This committee facilitates the implementation of experiments and innovations, such as the activities carried out within the REMEDIES project.
Since 2021, the National Park and the city of Hyères have decided to limit the number of visitors during the summer, an important step in reducing tourism pressure on Porquerolles’ environment.
The tourist limitations, now set at a maximum of 6,000 visitors per day, will contribute to a more sustainable use of water while also reducing pressure on biodiversity. Furthermore, a key objective is to establish Porquerolles as a zero-waste destination.
As part of this effort, the installation or assessment of two water fountains based on past experience will help minimise the number of plastic bottles imported and used on the island. In addition, SMILO is actively working to promote sustainable alternatives to plastic, such as products made from giant reed.
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
