Useful tools to be produced
The geographical spread of the project is necessary to bring about change to a shared transnational issue, in line with the Fund's objectives. The DST and other deliverables will add value by being freely available post the project period.
- DST:
A web-based decision-support tool will be developed to include life-cycle analysis, for the pilot samples in each region to enter data on their current consumption, waste production and costs of the 5 most used SUP. The tool will then present alternatives to the SUP and compare their environmental impacts (in terms of product emissions presented as kg of carbon dioxide equivalent) and costs (in Euro). The aim of the tool is to educate users on available, fit for-purpose, economically viable and environmentally friendlier alternatives, and help them switch to the most appropriate option. The results will be presented in a matrix to help users visually compare the proposed alternatives and to reduce their adverse effects on the environment.
- Action plans:
Action plans for each pilot tourist establishment in Cyprus, Greece and Malta (3 in each region, 9 in total) will be developed to help the pilot samples implement a strategy to ban/reduce their use of the selected SUP, in line with the provisions of EU Directive 2019/904. The action plans will be tailored to each establishment and will set targets/bans for that establishment's top 5 most commonly used SUP. It will also outline the recommended alternatives for each of the selected SUP using the results of the decision-support tool, along with a description of why the proposed alternative is the best option for that establishment to reduce its adverse effects on the environment pertaining to the use of SUP.
- Best practice guide:
Following the completion of the pilot in each of the 3 regions, a best practice guide will be developed, that will present the pilot results, project deliverables, action plans and decision-support tool. The guide will also summarise the impacts of plastic waste on human health and the environment, outline how to reduce plastic waste in the tourism industry, present the available, fit-forpurpose, economically viable and environmentally friendlier alternatives to SUP based on the DST results, and recommend actions. It will also outline how to use the decision-support tool, that will be freely available beyond the project duration, to enable the switch to alternatives with reduced effects on the environment pertaining to the use of SUP.