Status: closed

Project duration: 09/2025 – 03/2026

Grantee: Marevivo

In collaboration with: Alta Marea fishing cooperative  

Location: Marina di Carrara

The Challenge

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is one of the most widespread and damaging single-use plastics found in marine environments, beach ecosystems, and along coastlines. Highly fragile and prone to uncontrolled dispersion, it easily disintegrates into millions of microfragments that penetrate coastal rock crevices and are frequently mistaken for food by fish and other marine life. In the seafood sector, Italy unfortunately holds a bleak European record, utilizing an estimated 50 million disposable polystyrene fish boxes every year for catch transport and commercialization. Addressing this severe and underestimated source of marine litter is urgent, requiring immediate, scalable circular alternatives that target local supply chains.

 

The Solution

Following the pilot phase launched in Viareggio, the Bluefishers campaign has expanded to Marina di Carrara with the support of Tuscany Environment Foundation. Marevivo ETS directly tackles marine plastic pollution by providing a concrete, sustainable alternative to the local artisanal fishing fleet. By working hand-in-hand with Alta Marea fishing cooperative, the project actively engages the primary stakeholders – local fishermen – as protagonists of environmental change. The single-use polystyrene boxes are entirely removed from the local supply chain and replaced with reusable, recyclable alternatives, creating a cooperative and shared environmental path before setting out to sea.

 

Project Objectives & Deliverables

• Distribution of Sustainable Crates: Delivery of 550 reusable and fully recyclable polypropylene “DuWo” boxes, fully compliant with EU food safety standards, to the participating fleet.
• Engagement of Local Fleet: Direct involvement of 11 artisanal fishing boats and 15 local fishermen from the Alta Marea cooperative to systematically transition away from polystyrene.
• Pre-expedition Strategy Meetings: Organization of structured stakeholder meetings with the participating fishing cooperatives to launch a shared, effective operational framework.
• Community Awareness Campaign: Production and dissemination of specific educational materials to engage the local community, raise awareness on marine litter, and ensure visibility through press actions.
• Institutional Advocacy: Promoting sustainable behaviors within the industry to lobby and encourage public authorities toward phasing out EPS in seafood logistics.

 

Long-term Impact

By reaching the final artisanal small-scale fishing cooperative operating on the Tuscan coast, the project successfully closes the loop for sustainable seafood logistics in the region. The replacement of fragile, non-recyclable single-use packaging with high-durability polypropylene prevents millions of microplastics from entering the marine food chain, protecting both biodiversity and human health. Ultimately, this local intervention establishes a scalable, replicable model on the European stage, serving as a concrete step to advocate for future national bans on single-use polystyrene boxes within the maritime logistics sector.