What the tide leaves behind: reversing the impact of plastic pollution on Europe's coasts

Along Europe's coasts, plastic pollution has become an increasingly familiar sight.

It gathers in fishing harbours, washes up on beaches and drifts through coastal waters that have sustained communities for generations.

What arrives with each tide rarely disappears.

Over time, plastic fragments become carried by currents, ingested by marine life and embedded in sand, leaving a lasting mark on marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

What has the EU been doing so far?

For coastal communities, protecting marine ecosystems is not only an environmental priority, but also a social and economic one.

Recognising the growing threat of marine pollution, the EU has placed ocean protection at the centre of several major initiatives, including the European Ocean Pact, the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters, the EU strategies for islands and coastal communities and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

At the same time, the EU is tackling plastic pollution at its source by promoting sustainable product design, increasing recycling and advancing the circular economy through initiatives such as the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking.

Research and innovation projects are supporting the EU policy efforts by providing the data, tools and solutions needed to better understand, monitor and tackle a problem that arrives with every tide.

Following the trail of marine litter

Effective action starts with understanding how plastic pollution moves through the environment. While its impacts are most visible in marine ecosystems, plastic litter often originates inland and flows to the ocean via rivers and waterways. Tackling it therefore requires action across the entire waste and consumption system.

Through the MoRe4Nature project, researchers and citizens are working together to monitor water pollution and provide data that can support local decision-making. For example, in Italy, community-led river litter monitoring activities are helping authorities better understand pollution patterns.

Meanwhile, the AQUARIUS project is expanding access to marine research infrastructures across rivers and seas in Europe. Through initiatives such as its Floating University , the project is helping train researchers to monitor long-term trends in the Mediterranean Sea, including microplastics and other pollutants.

In the north, the ICEBERG project works with Arctic communities in Iceland, Greenland and Svalbard to study ocean and coastal pollution and develop resilience strategies. It has also developed a community monitoring platform that allows citizens and researchers to map and share pollution observations.

Transforming plastic waste into new resources

Monitoring pollution is only part of the solution: researchers are also exploring new ways to reduce waste and keep valuable materials in circulation.

The CUPOLA and CircSyst projects bring together chemists, engineers and environmental scientists to develop advanced recycling technologies that can transform marine plastic waste into new resources , helping support a more circular economy .

Supporting these efforts, scientists from the FHERITALE project are improving methods to detect microplastics and nanoplastics in humans, food and the environment. This is particularly relevant for coastal communities, where plastic pollution can enter seafood, water systems and humans.

Protecting coastal communities and restoring coastal areas

Alongside efforts to monitor coastal change, EU-supported researchers are helping coastal communities become more resilient and supporting ecosystem restoration.

The COASTLINE project combines satellite, drone, sensor and mapping data to monitor coastlines, including natural habitats and cultural heritage sites. By detecting risks such as erosion and damage , it helps authorities take preventive action.

The EmpowerUs project established coastal labs across Europe, bringing together citizens, local authorities, businesses and researchers to co-design and test solutions for sustainable coastal development. These initiatives helped communities build skills, improve ocean literacy and develop practical responses to environmental and socio-economic challenges.

#EUBeachCleanup 2026 - thousands of hands for a cleaner ocean

Tackling marine plastic pollution requires action at every level: from research laboratories and public institutions to local communities and individual citizens. But lasting change also depends on public participation.

That's the idea behind the #EUBeachCleanup - a global movement tackling marine pollution. Organised by the EU in partnership with the UN, this campaign brings together institutions, NGOs and citizens to clean up beaches, rivers and lakes.

Every piece of litter collected is a reminder that protecting the ocean is a shared responsibility - and that collective action can help keep Europe's coasts healthy for future generations.

You can find an event near you or organise one yourself: EU beach cleanup - Oceans and fisheries - European Commission

More information

Share your views about fresh water matters and help shaping EU's future ocean & water research and innovation strategy by 2 August: A water resilience research and innovation (R&I) strategy.