Enaleia

Enaleia is a social, non-profit enterprise dedicated to making the marine ecosystem sustainable by addressing marine plastic pollution and overfishing through circular and social economy solutions. Founded in 2016 in Greece, Enaleia began as the country's first professional fishing school, aiming to train individuals in sustainable fishing practices and create new employment opportunities within the fishing sector.

Over time, Enaleia expanded its focus to include environmental initiatives, notably the Mediterranean CleanUp project. This project engages over 3,000 fishers daily across Greece, Spain, Italy, Egypt, and Kenya to remove plastic waste from the sea, collecting more than 1,500,000 kilograms of marine plastic since 2018. The organization also collaborates with fishers to collect used fishing gear, preventing it from becoming marine debris. ​

The collected plastic is integrated into the circular economy through recycling and upcycling processes, transforming waste into new products. For example, Enaleia has partnered with the Ecoalf Foundation in Greece to recover marine litter, which is then processed into materials for fashion items. ​

Enaleia's comprehensive approach encompasses education, mitigation, prevention, and the promotion of circular economy practices, all aimed at preserving marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable fishing.

Photo Credits by: @enaleia
https://enaleia.com/