BACKGROUND

According to various sources, the planet's seas accumulate more than 140 million tons of waste with an annual rate of 12.5 million tons, which according to estimates by the McArthur Foundation will become nearly 30 million tons of discharges annually by 2030. More than 80% of this waste is plastic distributed in different proportions throughout the water column of the seas. At this rate, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea.

The Plastic Pollution Problem affects all the Atlantic Area cost (i.e. Portugal, Spain, France and Ireland). On the European Atlantic coast, the French Institute of the Sea IFREMER estimates that only in the Gulf of Bizkaia, there are more than 55,000 tons of marine plastic deposited, especially affecting the Atlantic-Cantabrian coast, from the north of Portugal to the coasts of New Aquitaine in France.

The presence of plastic in the sea attracts all kinds of toxic substances that are ingested by both the plankton on which marine species feed as well as by the marine species themselves, seriously affecting not only the preservation of biodiversity but also health, human food and economic activities that depend on the sea.

To handle this issue and transform it into an opportunity, it is necessary to find new solutions to recover and reuse marine plastic as raw material for the development of a new value chain related to marine plastics. BluePoint will tackle this challenge, developing new strategies to transform the linear productive process of maritime activities towards a resource efficient Blue Circular Economy focusing on the marine plastic value chain, i.e. plastic identification, fishing/collection, cleaning/sorting, recycling-processing and new value chain boosting. This will be done implementing specific research, entrepreneurship, sensibilisation and transferability actions within the project.

BLUE POINT AND EUROPEAN POLICIES

How does the project contribute to wider strategies and policies?

• The Atlantic Strategy Action Plan

  BluePoint is focused on marine plastic gathering, recycling and reusing, which helps to reduce marine pollution, which is a significant environmental challenge that impacts the health and resilience of the Atlantic Ocean. By removing plastic waste from the ocean and promoting the circular economy, the project can help to ensure the long-term health and resilience of the Atlantic Ocean.

  Moreover, marine plastic pollution can pose safety and security risks to the region, not just to the general population but also to the living resources of the Atlantic Ocean, such as fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. By removing plastic waste from the ocean, the project can help to reduce these risks and increase the safety and security of the Atlantic region as well as promoting sustainable management of resources.
  
  By promoting new ways of managing plastic waste and creating new economic opportunities, the project can stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in the Atlantic region.

• The EU Green Deal

  The BluePoint project supports the European Green Deal's goal of transitioning to a circular economy and promoting the sustainable use of resources. It aims to reduce plastic waste and protect biodiversity and ecosystems in the Atlantic Area by removing plastic waste from the ocean and promoting a circular economy.

  Additionally, the project will contribute to the European Union's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic waste. BluePoint also supports research initiatives along the marine plastic value chain, including the creation of novel technologies to recover, recycle, and repurpose marine plastic, aligning with the Green Deal's focus on research and innovation.

• The EU Territorial Agenda 2030

  The Territorial Agenda 2030 emphasizes the importance of territorial cooperation to achieve its objectives, and the BluePoint project will contribute to generating positive interdependencies between regions. The project supports sustainable development by promoting the circular economy and reducing waste, while also creating new economic opportunities and jobs in the region, contributing to inclusive development. BluePoint fosters local and regional circular economy strategies, while also focusing on innovation to create new business models and companies that support a blue circular economy.

• The Blue Economy

  BluePoint will focus on creating an ecosystem of intercooperation, innovation, entrepreneurship, and internationalization, which aligns with the EU's goal of promoting sustainable economic growth in the maritime sector through innovation and collaboration, leveraging the marine plastic value chain and new business opportunities arising from marine plastic pollution. This aligns with the EU's focus on promoting sustainable economic growth in the maritime sector while reducing marine litter and promoting a circular economy.

  BluePoint also aims to systematize a replicable model in other territories, contributing to the transition of the maritime sector towards a resource-efficient Blue Circular Economy. Additionally, the project contributes to regional development by leveraging the unique characteristics of the Atlantic-Cantabrian region to develop a sustainable economic model that can be replicated in other regions.

• The Marine Strategy

  The ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive of the European Union seeks to safeguard the marine environment more effectively throughout the continent. To this aim, BluePoint can contribute by removing plastic waste from the ocean, reducing marine pollution, and promoting a circular economy that supports the sustainable use of marine resources.
  
  The framework also promotes an ecosystem-based approach to marine management which will be addressed by BluePoint by reducing the negative impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable economic activities that support the health and resilience of marine ecosystems.

• Any other strategy(ies)

  CIRCULAR ECONOMY ACTION PLAN
  The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan aims to reduce marine plastic pollution through measures such as reducing plastic waste, increasing the use of reusable packaging, and researching the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life. Additionally, the plan calls for the development of new technologies to manage plastic waste.

  A EUROPEAN STRATEGY FOR PLASTICS IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
  The EU has the highest plastic recycling rate globally and aims to improve the recyclability of packaging and increase recycling rates. It is well-positioned to lead in new developments by supporting investment in modern recycling technologies, developing materials suitable for recycling, and finding solutions to reduce marine litter.

  DNSH
  Blue Points aligns with DNSH principles as it will have positive effects on the marine environment, reduce harm to marine species and habitats, and potential pollution of water or air due to marine plastics.