IMPRESS is exhibiting at this year’s European Maritime Day in Limassol, Cyprus.
It marks the project’s second event within its ongoing educational and awareness campaign dedicated to sustainability, circular economy principles, and marine environmental responsibility.
Rethinking Ocean Resources
As one of Europe’s leading events focused on the blue economy and maritime innovation, European Maritime Day provided the perfect platform for the IMPRESS consortium to engage with younger audiences and local communities on the urgent need to rethink the way we consume, manage, and reuse resources connected to our oceans.
Representing the project during the event were Christopher Kennard from reframe.food, Marcin Rakowski from MIR-PIB, and Monika Wiśniewska from Gdynia Aquarium. Together, they showcased the goals and ambitions of the IMPRESS project while engaging visitors in meaningful conversations around marine sustainability and circular economy practices.
From Waste to Opportunity
At the heart of the campaign was a simple but powerful message: waste should not be viewed as the end of a product’s lifecycle, but as the beginning of a new opportunity.
Through interactive discussions, educational materials, and outreach activities, the IMPRESS team highlighted how circular and zero-waste approaches can help reduce environmental pressure on marine ecosystems while unlocking sustainable value from ocean-based resources.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Young consumers remain a key focus of the initiative. By encouraging students and younger visitors to think critically about waste generation, recycling, responsible consumption, and marine preservation, the campaign aimed to inspire the next generation to become active participants in Europe’s transition toward a greener and more sustainable blue economy.
Visitors learned how innovation, science, and community engagement can work together to minimize waste and maximize the responsible utilization of everything the ocean has to offer.
Awareness into Action
The event also reinforced the importance of collaboration between researchers, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and citizens in achieving long-term environmental goals.
Participation in European Maritime Day represents another important milestone for the IMPRESS project as it continues to expand its outreach and educational activities across Europe.
As discussions around climate action and ocean protection continue to grow globally, initiatives like IMPRESS play a critical role in turning awareness into action. Through education, engagement, and innovation, the project continues to champion a future where circular thinking and zero-waste principles become central to how society interacts with the marine environment.
