PRESS RELEASE

Portugal Makes Progress in the Fight Against Plastic Pollution

Bandeira Azul and EndPlasticSoup Join Forces to Combat Ocean Plastic Pollution

On December 20, 2024, Georges Lebeau, Portugal Director of EndPlasticSoup, and Catarina Gonçalves, National Coordinator of the Bandeira Azul Program at the Bandeira Azul Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE), established a cooperation and collaboration agreement between the two institutions regarding the mitigation of ocean plastic pollution.

The ABAAE is a non-profit environmental NGO dedicated to education for sustainable development and the management and recognition of good environmental practices. ABAAE is part of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which brings together international organizations from over 77 countries to promote environmental education for sustainability.

The program has grown globally since 2001, with an increasing number of awarded beaches and marinas. In 2024, Portugal has 440 Blue Flags across beaches, marinas, and vessels, surpassing the 2023 count. Among these beaches, 49 are river beaches, making Portugal the second country worldwide with the highest number of awarded river beaches.

EndPlasticSoup (EPS), initiated in 2018 by Rotary Clubs in Amsterdam, is a global environmental project for Rotary International, supported by thousands of Rotarians and hundreds of Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact Clubs worldwide. The goal is to address and prevent plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle. The ambition is that by 2050, there will be no plastic in oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, forests, parks, or streets.

The Rotary movement currently has 1.4 million members worldwide, spanning over 200 countries. Its actions are based on seven key pillars: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing access to clean water and hygiene, supporting maternal and child health, education, local economic development, and environmental protection. One of Rotary’s major missions, pursued for over a century, is the fight against polio.

With a long and successful history, Bandeira Azul is a key partner of Rotary Portugal, which has over 150 clubs well established across the country. The main goals of this collaboration are to disseminate, promote, and engage in projects such as:

Portugal Azul: a scientific and naval expedition along the Portuguese coast to map marine pollution.
Redes Fantasma (Ghost Nets): aimed at reducing ocean pollution caused by fishing nets and equipment.

For more information, please contact us:
ABAAE: Catarina Gonçalves, catarinagoncalves@abaae.pt, www.abaae.pt
EPS Portugal: Georges Lebeau, contact@rotaryatlantico.pt, www.endplasticsoup.org