Pollution of the oceans is a problem all over the world. Beach rubbish in Cape Verde is no worse than most coastal countries. This waste includes a lot of items which cannot biodegrade including bottles, fishing nets, cans and food containers.
In Cape Verde two enterprising ladies from Mindelo (on the island of São Vicente) decided to address this issue. Helena Moscoso and Debora Roberto founded a company called Simili. In 2019 they started to use rubbish off the beaches, including fishing nets, to create products for sale, such as bracelets. One of the most distinctive aspects of their work is their Lixo d’Arte project. They produce attractive products using trash transformed though art. Whilst they are creating attractive products for sale, they are also raising environmental awareness. They are highlighting the problem of ocean pollution as well as helping to keep the beaches clean, re-using debris that would otherwise be put into landfill, burnt or taken back by the sea to damage marine life. They are helping to reduce the amount of beach rubbish in Cape Verde.
[23 May 2025]
