Dugi Otok has been turning to sustainable practices for some time now, with the goal of preserving nature and the environment. Reusable cups have been distributed to businesses operating in the area of Telašćica Nature Park and the protected northwestern part of the island in order to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
– As part of the Plastic-Free Croatian Island and Wastereduce projects, Sunce is working on reducing waste through the education of local residents and visitors, as well as by implementing new ecological solutions, – said project manager Dalka Zanki.
Does Dugi Otok have a new souvenir?
Reusable cups have been very well received by the boat operators working in Telašćica, as well as by their guests.
– Our cups keep disappearing from the boats because tourists want a souvenir from their visit to Telašćica, so they take the cups as keepsakes – said Kamil Mračić, who brings guests on the boats Gostilja and Moj dragulj.
Businesses operating in the Telašćica area mostly responded positively to the distribution of reusable cups. – The concessionaires, as well as their employees, were very interested when we brought the reusable cups onto their boats,- said Martina Špralja, a ranger who, along with her colleagues from Telašćica Nature Park, distributed the reusable cups to the concessionaires.
The reusable cups, produced as part of the Plastic-Free Croatian Island and Wastereduce projects, will also be used at the island’s largest event, the Saljske užance festival. – We plan to implement this ecological solution at the well-known Saljske užance in early August, – confirmed Lucija Grbin from the Sali Tourist Board.
Some concessionaires, such as the Destina boat excursion agency, stopped using single-use plastics a long time ago. – The distribution of reusable cups to boat operators is another step in the right direction. We eliminated all single-use plastics from our boats back in 2020 because we believe that preserving the sea and nature is not a choice, but a responsibility, – said Ante Cukrov from Destina.
– Many concessionaires have recognized the importance of transitioning to sustainable business models,- confirmed the director of the Telašćica Nature Park, Krešimir Rašan, adding that cooperation with concessionaires is key to achieving the long-term goals of nature conservation and sustainable tourism in the Park area.
The challenges of using reusable cups
How would you wash something if you don’t have hot water? Ivana Škrokov, a representative of the Nevica Cruise tourist agency, told us that these days she is figuring out where to place a dishwasher on the boat. – Until then, I wash them by hand – Ivana said, supporting Sunce’s initiative.
There are also concessionaires who do not have enough capacity or the means to wash the cups according to hygiene standards but will try to find a solution. – We like the cups and we hope to find a way to use them on the boat in the future, – said Ivan Čikarela from Kanela Tours.
Implementing this ecological solution is a particular challenge on Sakarun, one of the most beautiful Adriatic beaches. The local concessionaires have neither electricity nor hot water and they power their operations using their own generators.
– We did not find people using reusable cups on Sakarun, unlike in Mir Bay, for example, – said Tea Kuzmičić-Rosandić, head of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department at Sunce. On the other hand, Josip Brajković, chief ranger at PI Natura Jadera, said that he encountered positive reactions from the local concessionaires when distributing the cups.
Sailing toward sustainability
Since last summer, we have known that everyone doing business in the protected areas of Dugi Otok cares deeply about preserving natural resources, as they ultimately depend on them for their livelihood. During a survey conducted among concessionaires, Sunce staff discovered that as many as 80% of respondents separate plastic, glass, and metal returnable packaging, but that the majority of them, 61 %, still use single-use plastics in their business.
At an educational session held by Sunce in March of this year for all stakeholders in the protected areas of Dugi Otok, the Decision on limiting the use of single-use plastics for businesses operating in the Telašćica Nature Park was presented.
– The provisions of the Decision have been incorporated into the concession agreements, and one of them is the obligation to replace single-use plastic cups with glass or other reusable cups, – confirmed Rašan.
In the northwestern part of the island, the Decision will have to wait until new concession permits are issued.
Sunce has been involved for years in the sustainable shift of Dugi Otok. – Changes are difficult and do not always go according to plan, but despite the challenges, they are slowly and surely happening, – said Zanki.
Become part of the change yourself
Be part of the change — become a member or volunteer with Sunce! Take part in cleanup actions like those Sunce has organized on Dugi Otok, and become an active member of the community.
You can also join the SoleSTerra volunteer club, connect with like-minded people, gain new knowledge and experience, and at the same time contribute to environmental protection.
