News

Following the success of the first event held in Genoa in February, the second Open Day of the Plastron project will take place in Stintino on May 14–15, 2026. The European project, funded by the Interreg Italy–France Maritime Programme 2021–2027, involves seven partners and aims to promote the transition toward a circular economy in small Mediterranean coastal communities. 

Through the collection of plastic waste from the sea, seabed, and coastlines, the project seeks to transform it into new materials using additive manufacturing (3D printing), producing items for public use while creating a local circular economy system and enhancing local supply chains. Stintino is one of the project’s two pilot sites, together with the town of L'Île-Rousse in Corsica. 

Stintino becomes a laboratory by the sea  

The Open Day will take place over two days and will include two distinct moments. 

On the first day, Thursday, May 14, starting at 5:30 PM, a public event open to citizens and institutions will be held. The Municipality of Stintino and the project partners will present the activities carried out at sea — including images and videos from mapping and recovery campaigns — and showcase the concrete results achieved. The evening will also feature contributions from experts on the impact of marine litter and the protection of seabeds. It is intended as an opportunity for dialogue among administrations facing similar challenges — from coastal waste management to the difficulty of translating environmental awareness into concrete and fundable actions, including through European cooperation tools.  

On the second day, the MEDSEA team and consultants will guide primary school students through an educational journey exploring the key themes of PLASTRON, from raising awareness about marine plastic pollution to learning about 3D printing and the principles of circular economy. During this session, communication materials developed for the project will be used, with particular focus on PETunia. 

In its final year, Plastron will showcase the results achieved, including the development of urban furniture components produced through 3D printing. The research work has also led to a scientific publication, while the broader implications of the project’s main objective have made it possible to develop protocols and guidelines useful for future initiatives with a similar focus on enhancing local supply chains. Creating opportunities for multifunctionality and income diversification is one of the project’s additional goals, made possible through the use of a new material created by blending plastics with agricultural processing waste.  

In addition to the pilot sites in the municipalities of Stintino e L'Île-Rousse, the Plastron partnership includes: Confservizi Cispel Toscana (lead partner), ARRR (Regional Agency for Resource Recovery), the University of Genoa, the L’UniversitàUniversity of the Côte d’Azur and the MEDSEA Foundation.  

The final program will be announced in the coming days.