Limassol, 07 October 2024 – The renowned Limassol Wine Festival is the first event in Cyprus to initiate the Zero Waste Events Certification process with Mission Zero Academy (MiZA).
Paving the way towards zero waste
The festival, a cultural highlight of Cyprus, attracts thousands of visitors each year. As part of its commitment to reducing environmental impacts, Limassol Municipality has partnered with Friends of the Earth Cyprus to pursue MiZA’s zero-waste certification, aiming to transform the festival into a model of sustainability. This initiative marks the beginning of an important journey aiming to drastically reduce the waste generated during the event.
Improving waste management
The road to zero waste started with a comprehensive Waste Baseline Assessment – an evaluation which assesses a municipality’s current waste management practices – carried out by MiZA, supported by Friends of the Earth Cyprus. This assessment revealed significant areas for interventions, including organic waste (over 21 kg of the total waste) and residual waste (11 kg), followed by plastic bottles (6 kg). By gathering this data, MiZA will in the first stage, propose tailored strategies, focusing on waste prevention and reuse. However, the final solutions will be co-created with the City Council, the Cultural Department, the NetZeroCities Mission and other stakeholders, for a customised plan that addresses the unique waste challenges of the festival, ensuring that both short- and long-term strategies are aligned with our local needs and resources.
Key Initiatives already implemented this year include:
- Installation of a water refill station in the Municipal Garden, providing visitors with filtered cold water at all times.
- Installation of recycling bins and separate waste sorting areas.
- Enhanced signage (nudges) to guide festival visitors on how to properly dispose of waste.
A Commitment to Sustainability
By setting the foundation for this transformation, Limassol Wine Festival is leading by example. The goal is to significantly reduce waste production, foster a culture of reusing, and support the municipality’s broader sustainability efforts for climate neutrality by 2030.
Kaisa Karjalainen, Director of MiZA, states:
“This is the first organisation in Cyprus to take waste management on with ambition. Conducting our waste baseline assessment on the ground has been a rewarding use of our time because we now have a clear path forward with Limassol Wine Festival to create an example for future events in Cyprus.”
Sara Mariza Vryonidi, Project Manager at Friends of the Earth Cyprus, states:
“Transforming the Limassol Wine Festival into a zero-waste event is a move that aligns with the city’s push for climate neutrality by 2030. In a region facing environmental challenges, this festival is setting a new standard for sustainability. It’s not just about reducing waste—it’s about leading the way in making large-scale cultural events part of Limassol’s green future.”
The certification’s long-term goals include introducing reusable cups and cutlery, promoting sustainable vendor packaging, reducing food waste, and implementing bio-waste management.
The journey of the Wine Festival to a zero waste festival is supported by the ERIC project of Friends of the Earth, and supported by the Organisation Lemesos 2030 – European Capital of Culture Candidate City.
***ENDS***
Contact Friends of the Earth Cyprus: Sara Mariza Vryonidi /sara.mariza.vryonidi@foecyprus.org / 00357 99821283
Zero Waste Europe: Sean Flynn / sean@zerowasteeurope.eu or news@zerowasteeurope.eu / 0032 471 96 55 93
Notes to the editor
- For more information on Friends of the Earth Cyprus, visit their website here: https://www.foecyprus.org/
- For more information about the ERIC project, visit their website here: https://zerowasteeurope.eu/project/eric-project/
- Interview with Limassol Today: https://limassoltoday.com.cy/perivallon/pos-borei-i-giorti-tou-krasiou-na-gine/
