Over 400 Balearic students take part in the environmental contest 'Plastic Kilometers for Iris'

The environmental contest 'Plastic Kilometers for Iris', coordinated in the Pitiusas by IbizaPreservation and promoted by the Association 0 Plastic alongside Foundations Mallorca Preservation and Menorca Preservation, has finished with the recognition for the 2nd of ESO class of the ‘Cooperació i Servei a la Comunitat’ subject of Santísima Trinitat de Sant Antoni’s school, as the group that has recollected the most plastic in the whole Balearics in the fifth edition of this project, 200 kg.

As a prize for this collective achievement, the first that is granted in this new category of the contest, the student body, formed by 16 youngsters, enjoyed a journey in kayak and paddle surf organized by the collaborative companies Discover Ibiza Hikes e Ibizaventura last week.

In addition, ten students from Ibiza were appreciated for figurating among the 30 students from the Balearics that covered the most kilometres during the contest, carrying out cleaning activities in natural environments. As an award, they also participated in the same sporting activity.

In this 2025 edition, the best environmental works of sensibilization have also been winners, presented by students of every island, inviting the participants to offer creative solutions to the plastic problem via videos, essays, poems, drawings or other artistic creations.

In Ibiza, the winners, denominated 0 Plastic Warriors, have been José María Arribas and Cloe Chinchinella (2nd of ESO, IES Isidor Macabich), Daniel Ballester and Hugo Pia (2nd of ESO, Santísima Trinitat school), and Angad Sandhu alongside Abderrahman El Foual (4º de ESO, Santísima Trinitat school).  All of them have been awarded with a diving baptism in the Ibizan coast, an activity organized by the school Arenal Diving that took place on June 19th and 23rd, and that included a theoretical part and some immersions by teams.

The fifth edition of 'Plastic Kilometers for Iris', celebrated between April and June of 2025, have counted with the participation of 443 students from all over the archipelago, who have covered a total of 26.491 kilometres around natural areas, recollecting 508 kilograms of waste.

The initiative is celebrated in memoriam of Iris Goldsmith, daughter of the cofounder of the three implied environmental foundations, Ben Goldsmith. His legacy has driven a movement that grows year after year, with the objective of continuing to involve new generations in the fight against the plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the organization, this activity counts with the cofinancing of the British band Depeche Mode, that adds funds through the charity collaboration with the watches brand Hublot, in the mark of their Memento Mori world’s tour. The funds are transferred through Conservation Collective, a global web of environmental foundations of which the three Balearic “Preservations” form part of.

“From IbizaPreservation, we keep bidding for the awareness of the young people about the plastic pollution problem. It is vital that they know the problem, but also that they contribute to putting a solution and searching ways of regenerating our environment through their creativity to the service of this challenge”, affirmed Inma Saranova, director of the environmental foundation.

On her behalf, Alba Carbonell, cofounder of 0 Plastic, has highlighted that the project 'Plastic Kilometers for Iris' “generates a community of compromised people with the protection of every island that forms the archipelago”. “From 0 Plastic we identify young environmental leaders that inspire their surroundings and offer valuable initiatives, with the objective of involving the younger generations in the reduction of plastic use and the change of consuming habits”, has concluded.