The Only Fish That Eats Plastic

Under the slogan ‘The only fish that eats plastic’, Vilanova i la Geltrú Town Council is carrying out a recycling initiative on the Maritime Promenade. This, to prevent plastic from reaching the sea and to raise awareness among passers-by. All these measures, to preserve the environment.  


Educating the population


The importance of having a population that is aware of the importance of caring for the planet knows no age. The sooner we start to teach these measures and educate children at a very early age, the sooner they will establish them as daily routines and more ecological and sustainable ways of life. 
That is why the municipality of Vilanova i la Geltrú has decided to place two fish-shaped rubbish bins along the Maritime Promenade, which runs along the beach from one end of the town to the other. These ‘fish’, with a metal structure and covered with fishing net, hold the cans and plastic consumables that passers-by discard while strolling and enjoying the sea and the beach. The fish's mouth is the entrance for these plastics, which end up in its large body until they are removed and recycled by the cleaning service. 


In this funny and amusing way for children, two important lessons are taught. On one hand, this rubbish promotes proper recycling and helps to take care of the environment. On the other hand, the fish is a metaphor of what unfortunately happens if plastics and other debris get into the sea. Live fish ingest them and die. Others become entangled in floating or sinking objects and become trapped, unable to continue swimming and living. 


Sustainability as a solution to slow down the deterioration of the planet


In addition to this initiative, the City Council is working on others, which aim to educate us in the best possible way to preserve the space that surrounds us and which we all enjoy. In this way, both the marine ecosystem and the humans who enjoy the beautiful beaches, try to live in harmony and respect. 


How can we take care of the only planet we have?


At Smart Room Barcelona we know that fairs and events have great challenges in terms of sustainability. We already apply some measures to contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, such as: 

  • Rental supply of specific elements, which are reused many times (furniture, lighting, audiovisuals and plants).
  • Construction of elements that can be reused several times (counters, stands, supports, etc).
  • Stands with lightweight and, in some cases, reusable structures (walls that are later reused as floors, or boards that are later reused as interior structures).
  • Use of compostable coffee capsules instead of aluminium ones. 
  • Eco products in the cleaning kit of our stands.
  • Dishwasher rental option, or biodegradable accessories (glasses, cutlery and straws). 

Beyond the materials of a stand, we know that sustainability also has to do with many other factors.  Here are some ideas that we already apply in our day-to-day work in the office:

  • Diversity and inclusivity.  
  • Use of natural light in the office combined with LED technology. 
  • Respecting the intellectual property of other companies. 
  • Our team lives a maximum of 35 minutes from the office by public transport. 
  • We audit our suppliers in terms of good practices. 
  • We monitor our electricity consumption. 
  • We prefer natural ventilation rather than air-conditioning. 
  • We favour digital documents as much as possible. 
  • We recycle waste in specialised containers. 
  • We have an osmosis circuit to avoid plastic bottled water.
  • We reuse paper. 
  • We use compostable coffee capsules. 
  • We have ergonomic furniture and a workspace filled with natural plants.
  • Our members share transport when possible.
  • Promote sustainable transport (bicycle, scooter, train).
  • We promote the consumption of local products.

In addition, within the events sector, we are part of the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative that aims to reduce the carbon footprint to zero by 2050. To this end, several companies are working together to share ideas and shape them, to improve and apply them in our day-to-day work and to ensure a better future.  


Together we add up to more


How do you contribute to environmental protection? What initiatives do you implement in your company, in your daily routine, and what other measures would you like to incorporate in the future? 


If you want us to take care of the environment together and you prefer a sustainable stand design, contact us. We will assess the best way to promote your brand with a customised stand, and with sustainability in mind. 
 

Date: 2024-10-24