The global production of plastics exceeded 400 million tonnes in 2022. Approximately half of the produced plastics are designed for single-use purposes. When looking at the end-of-life options of plastic materials we can see that only one-third is recycled, either mechanically or chemically, almost one quarter is still sent to landfills and the rest is sent to energy recovery. The Baltic Sea is a closed and brackish sea, therefore limiting the plastic flow from neighbouring countries is crucial for the well-being of the Baltic Sea Region. Current reports estimate that humans leak twelve million tonnes of plastic into waterways each year and approximately 70% of all marine litter is constituted by popular single-use plastic items and lost or abandoned fishing gear.

The general public, private, and public administrations must learn how to limit the use of single-use plastics and improve waste management at the local level. In the BALTIPLAST project, we are creating practical tools and measures to help citizens, as well as private and public administrations, understand their consumption behaviours and take action to reduce single-use plastic utilisation.

Our solutions target all levels of reducing plastic use in the Baltic Sea Region, including strategic and management practices, communication and behaviour change, and technical and technological improvements for better plastic waste management. Within the project, we are developing the BALTIPLAST Plastic Waste Management Platform which acts as a solution hub for plastic waste management, reduction and prevention in the region. The platform details how municipalities can develop action plans and guidance documents to limit single-use plastic. Additionally, we present an inventory tool specifically designed for municipal administration, schools, local businesses and households. This tool is important for tracking and recording the amount of plastic used and is accompanied by recommendations for reducing single-use plastic in everyday activities. Efficient handling of plastic waste is key in limiting plastic pollution, for this reason, recommendations for waste management facilities are also provided.

Due to the diverse partnership involving Germany, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the project design is guided by co-creative innovation, through new schemes of collaboration in country clusters, further transferring the solutions to a transnational level. BALTIPLAST is providing a long-term contribution to ongoing efforts to reduce the plastic that enters the Baltic Sea Region. The project BALTIPLAST co-financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region helps driving the transition to a green and resilient Baltic Sea Region.