Kick-off Meeting Successfully Held for the PET-KayakEcoventure Project -

Kick-off Meeting Successfully Held for the PET-KayakEcoventure Project

On 12 February 2026, the online Kick-Off Meeting of the project PET-Kayak Ecoventure
– Paddling for a Sustainable Future (ERASMUS-SPORT-2025-SSCP) was successfully
held. The project is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport
programme, with a total budget of 60,000 EUR.

A total of 11 representatives from partner organisations across Croatia, Slovenia, and
Hungary participated in the meeting:

Kayak Canoe Club Mladost (Croatia) – Project Coordinator

Caritas of the Zagreb Archdiocese (Croatia)

Plastic Cup Society (Hungary)

Kajakaško društvo Brkati Som (Slovenia)

Project Objective
The main objective of the PET-Kayak Ecoventure project is to integrate environmental
sustainability, circular economy principles, and social inclusion into grassroots water
sports. The project demonstrates how PET plastic waste can be transformed into
functional kayaks while promoting responsible and environmentally friendly kayaking
practices.

The project combines:

River clean-up actions

PET upcycling workshops building kayaks from recycled plastic bottles)

Water rescue and safety training

Inclusive sports activities for youth and individuals with fewer opportunities

Key Outcomes of the Kick-Off Meeting
During the meeting, partners:

Presented their organisations and project team members

Reviewed project objectives, expected outcomes, and deliverables

Defined work packages, roles, and responsibilities

Agreed on the project timeline and key milestones

Established communication and administrative procedures (FTOP & SyGMa Portal,
shared cloud storage, WhatsApp group)

Confirmed the dissemination and visibility strategy

Special emphasis was placed on the development of the PET Kayak Upcycling
Guidelines, which will serve as one of the project’s core outputs, as well as on
preparing the first upcoming field activities.

Expected Project Results
Over the course of the implementation, the project will deliver:
• A fleet of kayaks built from recycled PET plastic
• Organised river clean-up events reducing plastic pollution
• Training sessions on sustainable kayaking and water safety
• A practical guide/manual on PET kayak construction and eco-friendly water sport
practices
• A digital platform with educational materials and project results
• Strengthened transnational cooperation between sports and environmental
organisations.
The project also has a strong social dimension. It aims to increase participation of young
people and individuals with fewer opportunities in structured water sports activities
while promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

Next Steps
In the coming months, partners will focus on developing the PET upcycling guidelines
and preparing the first river clean-up and workshop event.
PET-Kayak Ecoventure represents an innovative example of how sport can serve as a
powerful tool for environmental protection, community engagement, and the promotion
of European values of sustainability and inclusion.