Frequently Asked Questions

Going green is a phrase that essentially means choosing to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. When you “Go Green” you gain knowledge and adopt habits that lead to environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible choices in ways of living which help to protect the environment and sustain its natural resources. Going green can be achieved through simple steps that allow you to conserve energy, reduce pollution and save money. Some examples of going green are buying local products, recycling, eating less meat, and avoiding plastic products.

I recycle plastic. Isn’t that enough?
Recycling is not the solution to the global plastic crisis. First and foremost, we are not recycling as much as we should be. From the 1950s until 2018, only 9% of plastic waste was ever recycled (79% went to landfill or ended up in the environment and 12% was incinerated). Recycling of plastic is costly and as plastic gets recycled, it degrades and reduces in quality over time – this is called downcycling, and as a result, even if manufacturers make new products from recycled plastic (very few do), new plastic will always need to be created. Even if we start to reach recycling targets, we still produce far more plastic than can ever be recycled.

I read that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Is this true?
Yes. In weight, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

How much plastic is in our ocean?
About 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean every year. 236,000 tons of this plastic are microplastics. The amount of plastic pollution in the ocean is expanding at a catastrophic rate, but there are similar concentrations of plastic in the desert, in communities around the world, in our homes and in us.

Plastic eventually breaks down. So, what’s the problem?
Plastic never completely goes away. It may break down into smaller pieces of plastic, but it will stay on the planet forever polluting the environment – from our waterways to the soil that grows our food. Including the small amount that has been incinerated and has become toxic particulate matter. Plastic is a material that the Earth simply cannot digest.

I’ve read about plastic-eating microbes—can’t they stop it?
There have been studies that suggest that plastics may be degraded by microbes. However, these studies were conducted under laboratory conditions, which do not reflect actual life conditions. Either way, the impact of tiny microbes is insignificant in comparison with the colossal problem of plastic pollution.

I only use compostable plant-based plastic. That’s good, right?
What’s good about compostable plastic (bioplastic) is that it is typically made from plants and not petroleum. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the “go to” solution as an environmentally friendly alternative. That’s because in order for the material to break down, it needs to be under specific conditions in an industrial composting facility, something that we do not yet have in Cyprus.

I care about animals, why do I need to care about plastic?
Animal rights and plastic pollution go hand-in-hand. Plastic puts more than 1,200 different species in danger either from ingestion or entanglement – which can result in injury, illness, a halt in reproduction, starvation, suffocation, and even death.

I worry about my family’s health, but why should I care about plastic?
Human health and plastic pollution go hand-in-hand. Harmful chemicals found in plastic are highly toxic and can leach into the bloodstream and tissues of almost every one of us, including newborns. This has a wide range of chronic effects, including endocrine disruption and cancer-causing mutations. The average person can absorb anywhere from 74,000 and 121,000 particles of microplastic each year. Half of this microplastic toxification comes from the air we breathe, and the other half comes from the foods and drinks that we consume. Yet another reason why we should all start to become more conscious of the plastics we use.

I’m worried about climate change. Why should I care about plastic?

Climate change and plastic pollution go hand-in-hand. It’s not just the littered beaches and the unsightly surroundings. It’s the millions of tons of oil that go into the production of plastic – something that often gets overlooked & the greenhouse gas emissions created as a result of producing and disposing of plastic.

99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses are emitted at every stage of the plastic lifecycle. From extraction, to manufacturing, to transportation, and even long after plastic items are thrown away. When plastic decomposes in a landfill or the ocean, it continues to release methane and ethylene which are two powerful greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are the principle factor driving the climate crisis.

Okay, I’m convinced that plastic is a problem. So, what’s the answer?

To quote Robert Swan, “the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it” – this is a quote that is very relevant within our society. This is extremely disappointing because we are at a critical point in history right now, as the time to act on this issue was years ago.
Refusing non-essential plastic is a major factor in combating plastic pollution. If they are stopped from the source, we will be able to see immediate results. As individuals, we play a big role in this because when people actively refuse plastic, there would be less demand for it, which will ultimately result in a clean and healthy planet.
Though, of course, our future does not depend solely on individual action. Policy change and corporate responsibility also have to be taken into account. We ALL have our part to play. It’s not one or the other, it’s really all of us, together.
Though governments rarely act unless they sense pressure from voters and see a way. of winning future votes. Our government is not going to take the lead, but we can work on creating consumer pressure for more environmental measures.
The same goes with businesses, the more we show them that we consumers care about the environmental impact of what we purchase, the more sustainable alternatives they will start to provide.
Every time we spend money we’re casting a vote for the kind of world that we want. Therefore, we have the power to vote with our purchases and demand that producers and retailers do all that they can to ensure that products and packaging are safe for people and the planet.
In small ways, we can influence those around us and support organizations campaigning for the changes that we need, such as Let’s Make Cyprus Green. If you’d like to support us or become involved in our actions, please click here to learn more about membership.

How can I be informed about your cleanups?
You can sign up for our newsletter to be informed about all upcoming events or check the events section on our website.

Do I need to sign up to participate?
No sign up necessary. You can just show up the day of and help out!

I have some health problems and can’t handle a lot of walking, can I participate in one of your clean-ups without doing a lot of physical activity?
Of course! We need as many people as possible for our clean-ups and have all sorts of different ways to participate that do not require any walking around.

Are children able to participate in the clean-ups?
Yes! We highly encourage children to get involved so they can learn more about the dangers of littering and grow to become environmentally conscious. However, we do recommend that children are supervised and wearing gloves at all times.

What do you provide at the clean-ups?
We provide:

• Recycling/trash bags
• Refreshments
• First aid kit
• Hand sanitizer
• Face masks for those who prefer to wear.
• A truck
• Garbage bins
• Garden, work & latex gloves, however, we recommend that you bring your own gloves if you can just in case we run out of your size (gloves that are a thicker material to prevent any potential injuries).

Do I need to bring anything?
We only recommend the following:

• To wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
• For anyone with long hair, don’t forget to bring a hair tie.
• Just in case we run out of your size, gloves that are a thicker material (e.g,. gardening gloves) to prevent any potential injuries.
• For the hotter months, sunscreen and a hat. For the colder months, a jacket.
• A reusable cup to fill up on water.
• Your friends and family!

What happens to all the trash after the clean-up?
During each beach clean-up event, litter is collected, recorded, and recycled or disposed of properly.

Why do you collect the rubbish in plastic bags? What’s most important for us is to collect as much waste as possible during our beach cleanups so it does not have a chance to injure anyone or eventually make its way into the sea. In order for our findings to be collected, they have to be packed in the appropriate trash/recycling bags. The weight of the plastic we collect for recycling outweigh the plastic bags we use when collecting. The way we see it, we are giving the plastic we collect a second life by recycling it. We do not like using plastic bags but, unfortunately, we have to do our best with the resources that we have available. Please come forward if you have a solution for us. We always welcome new suggestions and ideas.

How can I become a member of Let’s Make Cyprus Green? 
If you are passionate and care for the environment just as we do, please contact us requesting to become a member and we will reply to your email with further information and registration details.

I am press or media and would like to get in touch, who do I contact?
Wonderful! Please contact us at [email protected] or give us a call at +357 25260344.

How can I volunteer with you? We are always looking for volunteers! Let’s Make Cyprus Green is operated entirely by volunteers so we are very grateful for any help we receive to help us progress. If you’d like to volunteer your skills (translator, designer, lawyer, webmaster, writer, photographer, etc.) please contact us mentioning how you would like to help – we’d love to welcome you on board!

How can I become a volunteer for your clean-ups?
Volunteers are a critical part of keeping our beaches clean and safe. We are always looking for volunteers to help us at our beach clean-ups. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up for our newsletter to be informed about our upcoming events.

I am a blogger and would like to work with you, who do I contact?
Fantastic! We are happy to work with you on custom marketing collaborations. You can get in touch with us at [email protected]

Do you have any educational programs for students?
We offer a number of classroom presentations and beach cleanup field trips for students of all ages. Let’s Make Cyprus Green encourages children to get involved in and learn about eco-issues so they can grow to become environmentally conscious. To learn more or to schedule an educational program, please contact [email protected].

Do you have any educational programs for offices?
Yes! Please contact us to book a presentation. 

What types of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Dicover & American Express), PayPal, bank transfer, and cash upon delivery.

Can I cancel or modify an order?
Of course. If you would like to cancel or modify an order before dispatch, please contact us.

Do you accept returns?
Absolutely. If you have received an incorrect or faulty product, please contact us so that we can make it right. We accept returns within 7 days of receipt of goods as long as the item is in the original packaging, has not been used, no seals have been broken, and have enclosed a copy of your original invoice. Please get in touch with us to make a return. We’re more than happy to help!

Where do your orders ship from?
All orders are shipped from Limassol, Cyprus.

Can I place a customised order?
Yes, custom orders can be placed for various products featured in the Eco Shop. For further information please contact [email protected]

How long will it take to receive my order?
All orders are processed within 1 working day. Customers based in the Republic of Cyprus receive orders in 1 -2 days delivery. 

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, all EU countries will receive their order in 8-10 days.

Orders outside of Europe will receive their order in 14 – 16 days.

Can I pick up my order myself?
You sure can! Though please note that pickups are by appointment only. To arrange your pickup please call 25256133

Environmentally friendly, or eco-friendly most commonly refers to products, services, laws, guidelines, and policies that are reduced, minimal, or no harm to ecosystems or the environment (also referred to as earth-friendly, nature-friendly, and green). For instance, preventing contributions to air, water and land pollution.

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical found in many hard plastics products that we use every day; for instance, food containers, water bottles, baby bottles, sports equipment, medical/dental devices, and household electronics, just to name a few. High BPA exposure has been linked to infertility and other health problems such as heart disease, fetal brain development, type 2 diabetes increase in body weight, asthma, breast and prostate cancer.

The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community in a given time frame is known as a “carbon footprint“.

Each of the following activities adds 1 kg of CO2 to your personal carbon footprint:

Travel by public transportation a distance of 10 – 12 km
Drive with your car a distance of 6 km (assuming 7.3 liters petrol per 100 km)
Fly with a plane a distance of 2.2 km
Operate your computer for 32 hours (60 Watt consumption assumed)
Production of 5 plastic bags
Production of 2 plastic bottles