17.04.2026.
The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund participated in the 3rd Eco City Waste Fest with an educational and interactive programme as part of the “Back to Nature" campaign, raising visitors’ awareness of the importance of reducing the use of plastic in daily life in a fun and interactive way.Breaking the plastic habit: Cloth bags in focus
In an eco-quiz, visitors had the opportunity to check their level of environmental awareness, and great interest was sparked by the possibility of replacing plastic bags with cloth ones as a practical illustration and a symbolic reminder of the importance of reducing single-use plastic. "Based on its results, Osijek is an example of the best practice because few large cities can boast of separating over 55% of municipal waste. This step forward did not spring out of thin air, it’s a result of investments not only in upgrading municipal infrastructure, but also continuously providing education to our citizens. That’s why through the "Back to Nature" campaign, we want to further encourage citizens to change their daily habits, because in addition to proper waste separation, it is just as important to work on waste prevention," said the representative of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, Saša Pupovac.
The “Talking Wall” - Visitors' Environmental Pledges
The spotlight also fell on the “Eco-Pledge Wall", where visitors left their personal environmental promises - anything from slight changes in everyday habits to concrete decisions on reducing the use of plastic. So, over the course of the day, the wall became a visual message of shared responsibility and willingness to change, filled with notes such as "I will choose planet-friendly options for as long as I can" and "From now on, I’ll no longer buy fruit and vegetables in plastic".
The mayor of Osijek, Ivan Radić, also joined the event, supporting the initiative by leaving a message on the pledge wall that the City of Osijek will strive to achieve more than 60% of separately collected waste, thus highlighting the importance of accomplishing sustainable goals.
Joint Change: Citizens and Influencers Support the Campaign
During the day, the event attracted many visitors who actively participated in programme activities, took photos at the stand and shared their impressions and photos on social networks. The whole space was filled with good energy, laughter, and a positive atmosphere, with a keen interest in interactive content.
The programme garnered wider notice through the participation and support of influencers Tena Sakar Vukić and Ivana Pirizović, whose content and presence at the event contributed to spreading the campaign message among their audience, further reinforcing the importance of sustainable choices in daily life.
The "Back to Nature" campaign has once again shown how interactive formats, simple activities and direct contact with citizens can make the topic of waste more relatable in a straightforward manner and encourage real changes in habits.
