The BALTIPLAST Project – From Pilot Actions to Transferable Solutions

The BALTIPLAST project developed practical approaches to tackling plastic pollution within a circular economy framework. By bringing together municipalities, NGOs, and universities, the project built a strong, collaborative response to the complex challenge of plastic pollution.  

Plastic pollution remains one of the most persistent environmental pressures on the Baltic Sea. As a semi-enclosed and brackish sea, it is particularly vulnerable to plastic inflows from surrounding countries, with the majority of marine litter originating from everyday single-use items used on land. While European and national strategies increasingly recognise this challenge, implementation at the municipal level remains uneven and fragmented. 

Launched in January 2023 under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, the BALTIPLAST project brought together 18 project partners and 6 associated organisations and addressed this gap by equipping municipalities – and the local actors they influence – with practical, tested, and transferable solutions to reduce single-use plastics and improve plastic waste management across the region. 

Enabling municipalities to lead plastic reduction 

Municipalities played a key role in preventing plastic pollution, but often lacked clear strategies and practical tools. In close cooperation with eight municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region, BALTIPLAST translated circular economy principles into actionable local frameworks based on a clear hierarchy: prevent, reuse, and recycle. 

These co-created strategic solutions were put into practice across partner cities – from frontrunners like Västerås, strategic planning in Helsinki and Tallinn, to reuse systems in Valmiera, strengthened waste management in Daugavpils, and practical guidance for local actors in Kaunas – demonstrating that plastic reduction is both feasible and compatible with high-quality public services. 

The municipal actions were reinforced by technical pilots in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, showing how improved separate collection, data-driven sorting, and better local data support higher-quality recycling and concrete circular end-uses. Together, the results confirm that well-designed, collaborative systems can turn plastic waste into a resource while delivering cleaner public spaces and stronger local engagement. 

Transnational Cooperation for Systemic Change 

To complement strategic and technical measures, BALTIPLAST developed soft solutions that addressed plastic consumption at its source – everyday organisational practices. At the core is the Plastic Inventory Tool, adapted to the needs of schools, businesses and municipalities, designed to help the target groups make their plastic use visible, analyse consumption patterns, and develop tailored reduction plans based on real data rather than assumptions. 

The Plastic Inventory Tool enabled municipalities, schools, businesses, and event organisers to track plastic use across key categories such as food and beverages, office supplies, packaging, and event-related materials. By identifying where plastic can be avoided, reused, or better managed, the tool supported low-cost, practical measures that can be implemented without major investments. 

The BALTIPLAST soft solutions were piloted in four municipalities, during the organisation of four sustainable public events, in 14 schools, and across 20 businesses. To extend impact beyond organisations, the tool was adapted for household use and applied in a dedicated plastic reduction campaign involving 320 households across the Baltic Sea Region. The general public was further reached through the awareness-raising campaign running in seven Baltic countries on four key social media platforms. The pilots confirmed that tracking plastic use was a powerful driver of behavioural change, both in professional and everyday contexts. 

Validating impact through environmental assessment 

To support evidence-based decision-making, BALTIPLAST complemented its pilot actions with an environmental impact assessment, presented in the BALTIPLAST Package of Solutions, evaluating the effects of selected measures across strategic, soft, and technical solutions. The assessment focused in particular on greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating how changes in plastic consumption, reuse systems, and waste management practices translate into measurable reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. 

By comparing baseline situations with pilot implementation scenarios, the assessment confirmed that prevention-oriented measures – such as reducing single-use plastics, introducing reuse systems, and improving sorting and recycling – can deliver tangible climate benefits alongside reduced plastic leakage. Importantly, the results provide municipalities with a clear indication of the scale and direction of impacts they can expect when adopting similar measures. 

Beyond validating project results, the environmental impact assessment was designed to serve as a decision-support tool for local authorities. By linking plastic reduction measures to quantified CO₂ emissions, it enables municipalities to integrate plastic prevention into broader climate, sustainability, and circular economy planning processes. 

Your gateway to municipal plastic reduction 

Reducing plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea Region was identified as depending not only on policies and technologies, but on the capacity of local authorities to act. Municipalities are responsible for public services, procurement, events, schools, and waste systems – yet many still lack practical guidance on how to systematically reduce single-use plastics and translate circular economy ambitions into everyday decisions. 

To address this gap, the BALTIPLAST project launched its Digital Platform and Educational Kit for local public authorities in June 2025, accompanied by a series of interactive training events presenting the soft, technical and strategic solutions. The Platform and Educational Kit was built on the knowledge, tools, and experiences developed throughout the project and brought them together in a single, accessible digital environment. Designed specifically for municipal experts and public service providers, this kit supports local authorities in reducing single-use plastics and improving plastic waste management through concrete, implementable measures. 

Building capacity for long-term uptake and transfer 

Beyond tools and pilot actions, BALTIPLAST invested in capacity building to ensure lasting impact. The webinar series was accompanied by local training events in Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, where project knowledge was transferred directly to local ecosystems. Through targeted training, interactive learning materials, and coaching sessions, BALTIPLAST strengthened institutional capacity and supported the uptake of solutions in real municipal contexts. 

Through its integrated, multi-level approach, BALTIPLAST made a concrete contribution to reducing plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea Region and to strengthening the capacity of municipalities to act. By combining strategic frameworks, data-driven soft solutions, technical pilots, and targeted capacity building, the project created a coherent and practical foundation for plastic prevention and improved waste management at the local level. 

Already during project implementation, transfer effects became visible. BALTIPLAST tools and guidance reached municipalities, schools, businesses, and households across the region, supporting the uptake of prevention-first practices and circular solutions. The Plastic Inventory Tool has been adapted to different user groups and applied in diverse contexts, while municipal strategies and guidelines developed within the project are being used to inform local action planning and sustainable event organisation. Training activities and awareness-raising campaigns have engaged a growing community of practitioners, enabling peer learning and encouraging replication beyond the original pilot sites. 

As pressures on marine environments intensify and expectations for sustainable resource use grow, BALTIPLAST delivered practical, low-investment solutions that municipalities and local actors can apply immediately. By translating circular economy principles into everyday practice, the project supports the Baltic Sea Region in moving toward a future with less single-use plastic, smarter consumption, and more resilient local systems. 

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