Armonia Beach is now certified as “plastic-free”
When we purchase a standard bottle of drinking water, we tend to overlook the environmental impact of plastic. Plastic takes centuries to decompose naturally, and even a small bottle will outlast us and our great-grandchildren. Is this the legacy we want to leave for future generations?
In a significant step towards combating plastic pollution and promoting eco-friendly tourism, Limassol’s Armonia Beach received official recognition as the fifth plastic-free beach in Cyprus on Saturday, September 16. The grand opening was personally attended by Andrey and Julia Dashin and their daughter. The media partner was Sfera FM Radio.
This recognition is part of the “Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free, Destination Zero Plastic in Cyprus” initiative, jointly organized by the TUI Care Foundation and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative.
The certification ceremony on the beach included plastic recycling master classes for children, music and entertainment activities, contests dedicated to the problem of plastic pollution and cleaning the coastal zone. In gratitude for their work, participants received reusable branded water bottles and other valuable prizes.
President of the Agios Tychonas community council, Pambos Charalambous, accepted the ‘Plastic-Free Beach’ emblem and thanked all who contributed to the project’s success.
The initiative aims to connect tourists, tourism businesses, and residents in implementing actions to reduce single-use plastic consumption in coastal areas. The project is gradually changing people’s mindset by inspiring locals and tourists not to use plastic on the beach. This will help citizens to switch from disposable bottles to reusable bottles in the future. The ultimate goal is to reduce plastic waste ending up in the sea, thereby mitigating plastic pollution.
Several facilities were introduced at the beach as part of this initiative, including a water refill station to provide free chilled and filtered water, designated smoking areas, and an art installation crafted from 300 plastic bottle caps created by students from the Petrou & Pavlou High school in Limassol. Informative signs and other amenities were also installed.
The beach enhancements were made possible through funding from the Andrey & Julia Dashin Foundation and support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, the Cyprus Environment Foundation, and the Agios Tychonas Community Council.
It is important to remember that protecting the environment depends on every one of us. Simply giving up single-use plastic bottles and participating in a local beach cleanup will help us to make the world a better and cleaner place and preserve it for generations to come.