Zibel Studio

Zibel Studio aims to achieve an answer to the waste on the seabed surrounding the Maltese Islands. Zibel, an NGO committed to marine conservation, has been actively conducting marine cleanups since 2019, successfully collecting over 130,000 kg of waste from the sea. This waste includes plastics, fishing gear, metals, ceramics, rubber and tyres, glass, textiles, and other materials alien to the sea.

With a focus on raising awareness, educating the public, and taking concrete actions to address marine pollution, Zibel collaborates with various stakeholders. These include conducting school visits to share knowledge about the sea and the detrimental effects of plastic pollution, organizing monthly diving cleanups to mobilize the public to take direct action, and engaging with the private sector to establish projects addressing waste issues as a small island state. The engagement established Zibel Tribe, a group of loyal volunteers ready to take action and clean our marine environment. Zibel has installed a series of marine waste bins strategically placed along the coastline. These bins are installed to enhance public engagement with the environment while taking out waste from nature and bringing to the base for future recycling techniques.

One major initiative Zibel is undertaking is the installment of a microfactory to recycle marine plastics into boards for use in manufacturing new materials. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on raw materials while raising awareness of the meticulous process involved in dealing with marine plastics. Furthermore, this instalment is the next step which directly manages the marine plastic waste providing a solution to the material. Marine plastic cannot be recycled in Malta as we do not have any recycling facilities, and because they cannot be mixed with land plastic since they are contaminated with sea water. Therefore, the microfactory is an essential part for the Maltese Islands.

Project Icarus, one of Zibel's key initiatives outside Zibel Studio, involves continuous monitoring of the Maltese coastline to understand the flow of waste from neighboring lands. The ultimate goal is to achieve a waste-free benthic environment. Through this initiative, Zibel seeks to monitor waste influx along the coastline and assess its ecological impact on marine ecosystems. By gathering regular data on waste accumulation, Project Icarus aims to inform targeted interventions and promote sustainable practices to protect the marine environment. The project is divided into separate areas around the Maltese Islands, with regular cleanups focusing on specific portions of these areas to ensure thorough clearing of the seabed. Check-in dives will be conducted to understand the rate at which marine waste enters the space. Additionally, drones equipped with AI technology will be used to detect plastic debris floating on the sea or washed up along the coast.

Zibel Studio is the first step towards achieving a cleaner and healthier marine environment. It is successful because of the strong support system of the Maltese community that is coming together to fight for the better cause and achieve the respective targets while informing future interventions and promoting sustainable waste management practices. Lastly, all activities held by Zibel, are continuously being documented and made public via our social media platforms.