First meeting of the LooP Zone project local working group held in Komiža

On August 25, 2026, the first constitutive meeting of the local working group for the project was held in Komiža LooP Zone – Promoting a Circular Economy with Low Plastic Zones on Mediterranean Islands, which is being implemented under the Interreg Euro-MEDprogram.

The establishment of the local working group marks the start of collaborative efforts to develop a Low Plastic Zone pilot area in Komiža, with the goal of reducing the use of single-use plastics in tourism, hospitality, and daily local activities.

The meeting was organized by Vis Archipelago Geopark and Sunce Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development, a project partner for the LooP Zone project, which also participates in the local working group and provides expert and methodological support for project activities.

The local working group consists of representatives from the City of Komiža, the Komiža Tourist Board, Nautički centar Komiža d.o.o., and the hospitality sector - Pirkotova Lula (Marija Fiamengo), private rental hosts - Jadranka Darlić, Sunce Association and the Vis Archipelago Geopark. The meeting was attended by, among others, representatives of the local HORECA and accommodation sectors, whose experience is vital for understanding the actual working conditions during the tourist season.

During the meeting, the LooP Zone project was presented, along with the role of the local working group and the initial data collected through fieldwork and communication with local stakeholders. Discussions focused on where single-use plastics appear most frequently, which practices are already in place, the obstacles faced by caterers, rental hosts, and the utility sector, and which activities could be realistically implemented in Komiža.

Special emphasis was placed on the fact that solutions for reducing single-use plastics must be tailored to the local context. Komiža is a small island community with extreme seasonal pressure, limited infrastructure, and specific operating conditions; therefore, future activities cannot be based on universal solutions, but rather on the actual needs and capabilities of the local community.

Preliminary results from the survey and stakeholder interviews show that the challenges are not exclusively financial. Among the most frequently cited obstacles are user behavior and convenience, the availability of information and suppliers on the island, hygiene requirements, and the operational feasibility of certain solutions. At the same time, there is recognized interest in future pilot activities, including collaboration with suppliers, reducing individual packaging, solutions related to drinking water, and the potential for using reusable systems where they are practically feasible.

The meeting also touched upon other local waste management activities, including the prepared documentation for the Rovna recycling yard, the City of Komiža's planned procurement of a bio-composter, and the acquisition of a paper and cardboard baler to be shared by Vis and Komiža. These activities provide an important local framework that LooP Zone can build upon through data collection, education, stakeholder engagement, and the testing of small-scale pilot solutions.

The goal of the local working group is to shape measures that are useful, feasible, and tailored to Komiža through regular collaboration between the City, the utility sector, tourism stakeholders, civil society, and the Geopark. In this sense, the working group represents an important step toward developing a local model for reducing single-use plastics that can provide long-term value for the community, tourism, and marine conservation.

We would like to thank all members of the local working group for their participation, time, and constructive discussion. This is the first step in a collaborative process through which we will strive, in cooperation with local stakeholders, to find solutions that make sense for Komiža and can function in real island conditions.