Leiden, September 20, 2024 — Green Phenix, proudly announces its victory at the 4th Plastic Avengers Conference, winning the prestigious Spronck Stimuleringsprijs. Held at the Makercentrale in Leiden, the Netherlands, this inspiring event brought together like-minded individuals and organisations committed to tackling plastic pollution. The initiative for the event was spearheaded by prominent Dutch activists, including Merijn Tinga, also known as the Plastic Soup Surfer, and Dirk Groot, also known as the Zwerfinator. Both have been instrumental in researching and reducing litter across the Netherlands.
This initiative was born from a year of in-depth research at the Islands and Small State Institute of the University of Malta, where Green Phenix founder Sabine Berendse explored solutions to plastic pollution in small island contexts. Green Phenix’s project seeks to expand the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system beyond European borders, addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste in regions like Curaçao, where waste management infrastructure is limited. By holding producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products, regardless of where they are sold or discarded, Green Phenix aims to reduce plastic pollution at its source.
“Our goal is to create a world where cleanups are no longer necessary,” said Sabine Berendse. “This award allows us to take our efforts further, raising awareness and pushing for policy changes that will benefit vulnerable regions like Curaçao. We are incredibly grateful for this recognition.”
While Green Phenix had four representatives present at the conference, the spirit of action continued in Curaçao, where Green Phenix team members, in partnership with Klein College and MPA, participated in the annual World Cleanup. However, while cleanups are crucial, Green Phenix believes that addressing the root causes of plastic pollution is essential to creating lasting change and reducing the need for future cleanups.
The €2024 prize will be used to support Green Phenix’s awareness campaign, lobbying for an effective EPR system throughout the Dutch Kingdom. This system would not only reduce litter, but also ensure that producers are responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, easing the burden on communities like Curaçao.
