Each year on June 5, World Environment Day brings together individuals, organisations, and communities around the globe to reflect on one shared goal: protecting our planet. The 2025 theme, Beat Plastic Pollution, highlights an urgent challenge—and a clear call to action. We need to rethink our reliance on plastic and embrace sustainable alternatives that respect both people and nature.
At BioRural, this message is deeply connected to our work. We believe that the path to a greener, more circular Europe starts in its rural areas. And we know that rural communities are already generating practical, creative solutions to reduce plastic use—solutions that deserve to be recognised, supported, and scaled up.
Why Rural Areas Are Key
Plastic is still a common part of agricultural life—from packaging and storage to crop protection. But with growing awareness of the environmental damage it causes, the search for smarter alternatives is gaining momentum. That’s where rural innovation comes in.
BioRural works with local actors across Europe to identify and promote bio-based solutions that reduce plastic dependency, make use of local resources, and create real value for rural economies.
Inspiring Examples from the Field
To mark World Environment Day, we’re proud to highlight some of the success stories coming out of the BioRural network:
In France, NaturePlast is turning agricultural by-products into bioplastic pellets—providing sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics and giving new purpose to farming residues.
In Greece, Staramaki transforms wheat stems into biodegradable drinking straws, replacing single-use plastics while creating jobs and supporting local farmers.
In Slovenia, ABG Algae Solution uses algae to recycle wastewater and produce biomass, demonstrating how nature-based innovation can solve environmental problems and open up new opportunities.
In Latvia, a composting initiative is using willow instead of peat to improve soil health and cut emissions, showing that sustainable growing materials can come from within the local landscape.
These examples are more than isolated success stories—they are proof that rural communities have both the ideas and the drive to lead Europe’s transition toward sustainability. Explore more success stories in the BioRural Toolkit!
Looking Ahead
World Environment Day is a powerful reminder that real change often begins at the local level. The rural bio-based solutions supported by BioRural show that it’s possible to tackle big environmental issues through small-scale, practical innovation.
As we work together for a more sustainable future, we’ll keep building bridges between rural knowledge and European ambition—showing that a plastic-free, bio-based future isn’t just possible, but already in motion.