The non-profit association Maritimo Recycling has been collecting plastic waste from the Adriatic for ten years, transforming it into stylish accessories, with all proceeds going back into new cleanup campaigns.
In the Dubrovnik neighborhood of Gruž, the non-profit association Maritimo Recycling has been operating for a decade, building a recognizable environmental story from marine plastic waste and citizen donations. The association was founded by Marjan Žitnik and is now known for its Floaties sunglasses, pendants, and other fashion items made exclusively from recycled plastic caps.
What's particularly interesting is that the caps don't just come from local beaches and islands. Citizens from all over the country actively participate in the project. "Today, people from all parts of Croatia send us caps by mail. They pack them in a box and send them because they want to be part of this story," Andrea Klečak told Večernji list, who has been involved in the project for the past year.
The plastic processing process at the association's premises is meticulous. The collected caps are first carefully sorted by type and color. After washing, they are shredded into small pieces, which are then melted and pressed into new products. The final stage involves precise finishing and assembly. Currently, two collections of sunglasses are available at €59.99 each, and they are unique in that they float on water. They come with a lifetime warranty, and customers can exchange them, closing the loop where plastic continues its life.
Crucially, all revenue from sales stays within the association and is used to fund new environmental actions. "In the past year, we've sold several thousand products. All revenue stays within the association and is used to fund new cleanup campaigns, boat rentals, equipment, space, and salaries for employees who work in the workshop daily," Klečak explained. Cleanup actions are mostly carried out by volunteers, while a small team of employees processes plastic and makes products every day.
The quality of the products has been recognized by major partners. Maritimo Recycling collaborates with the Dubrovnik Museums, previously made products for Rio Mare, and is currently developing samples for Coca-Cola using their plastic caps. New collections are also in the pipeline, along with the introduction of jewelry with marine motifs. The association is also working on implementing new machinery and innovations to expand its environmental story to kindergartens, schools, and offices.
Particularly interesting are the educational workshops that also attract tourists. During the tour, visitors learn about the entire recycling process, from discarded cap to finished product, and at the end, they make a small pendant as a souvenir. The tour price also includes one of the products made from recycled plastic.
