Target Groups
Community – Entities
Pillars
Prevention – Zero Waste
Type of Litter
Plastic bottles and cups
Goals Achieved Towards a Plastic-Free Future
Perfectly scalable zero-waste measures
Partners involved: EXIT, ANGR, Bio-Mi, AITIIP, NIC, CIBOS, IHA
Since 2017, the best music festival in this part of Europe — Sea Star Festival puts Umag and Istria on the map of the world’s most relevant festivals, bringing tens of thousands of young people from all over Europe to this region every year.
With pleasant temperatures in the spring and summer, a mild Mediterranean climate, a crystal-clear sea, and a camp located right next to the festival, Stella Maris lagoon is the ideal location for the festival. Waste management however is challenging and festival operations are overstressed by the volume of disposables generated by the festival goers.The accumulation of plastic waste should be prevented, including the one that occurs after the Festival.
Implementing innovative cups at Sea Star Festival in Umag offers a unique opportunity to enhance sustainability, branding, and user experience. Reusable or biodegradable cups can significantly reduce plastic waste, aligning with EU green policies and improving the festival’s environmental impact. A deposit-return system encourages responsible use.
Key synergies include partnerships with local eco-friendly suppliers, beverage brands, and tech providers for seamless implementation. Integration with other EXIT events ensures knowledge-sharing and scalability, while exclusive sponsor tie-ins enhance both branding and attendee satisfaction.
Results of this project will be valuable in advising municipal public utilities companies on the implementation of their solid waste management plan. Furthermore, through the EXIT Foundation, we will reach 6 festivals in 4 countries: Sea Star (50 k visitors), EXIT (200 k), No Sleep (25 k), Festival 84 (30 k), Ada Awakening (2 k), Revolution (25 k).
As a direct impact of this project, some of these festivals will be able to implement the reusable cup system, the sustainable food packaging, and water refill stations. We calculate with around at least 0.34 kg of plastic waste produced per person, which sums up to >140 tonnes of plastic waste, that we can save every year only at EXIT’s festivals.
Inputs
Workshops for plastic free cosmetics
Information conferences for more sustainable packaging for all provisional businesses in Budva or Podgorica (Montenegro) and one in Novi Sad (Serbia) for the biggest of all events (EXIT festival)
Ιmplement green event standards for similar festival
Use of the green washer washing lines, with heat exchanger and green walls to recover water for reuse
Raise awareness on site and over the digital and social networks
Replication of water refill stations for replacing water bottles and the public for plastic valorisation
Setting up the system for reusable bioplastic glasses for beer – 25,000 branded glasses
Awareness raising activities for stakeholders in the festival supply chain, and connection with other 30 festival organisers
Support the tender process for all the food trucks on the festivals to reach zero plastics
Outputs
- Save 600 kg of plastics per Sea Star festival
- 2 workshops per festival for zero waste cosmetics, we aim to reach >300 people
- Prevent 240.000 pieces of plastic food packaging per Sea Star festival
- Save >700 kg plastic waste, by making businesses to change food wrappings to sustainable solutions
Location
Stella Maris lagoon, City of Umag, Croatia
Basic data
Stella Maris lagoon. Attendance: 50.000 per festival edition
