When environmental education becomes experience, creativity, and shared responsibility
From mid-July through late October, the Fish Shack became more than a seaside spot to eat with a view. It turned into a meeting place — a space where learning, creativity, and care for the island came together in a series of environmental actions. Over four sessions, Creatives for the Planet, together with Plustic Lab, Aliança per l’Aigua, and marine biologist Eva García, partnered with Sa Punta to bring science, art, and hands-on activism to the shoreline of Talamanca.
It began on July 19, with a beach clean that revealed an uncomfortable truth: while reducing waste is essential, what do we do with what’s already out there? Ten children learned to sort different polymers and recycle plastic manually using a pedal-powered shredder, turning discarded materials into keychains shaped like Ibiza — small reminders of a commitment made with their own hands.
The second action centred on posidonia, the seagrass that quietly sustains much of the life in our waters. After another coastal clean-up, marine biologist Eva García led a workshop on its ecological importance before we headed into the sea to observe the underwater meadows firsthand. Eighteen children, seven adults, and more than 20 kilos of waste later, one thing was clear: when people understand what they are protecting, they care differently.
In October, waste returned as raw material for creativity. Thirteen participants worked together to create a colourful mural dedicated to posidonia — using everything from broken hoses to fishing nets and a discarded beach mattress. The most inspiring moment: watching the youngest participants take the lead, tools in hand, discovering that experience is the most powerful teacher.
The season closed on October 18, this time with water as the protagonist. Together with Aliança per l’Aigua, we explored the water cycle, consumption footprints, and the growing risk of drought. Another clean-up — another 6 kilos of waste removed from the coast — turned theory into immediate action.
Four gatherings. Dozens of participants. More than 38 kilos of waste removed.
But the numbers are the least important part.
What mattered was the invisible: conversations, curiosity, creativity, and the feeling of doing something meaningful together.
Behind all of this stands MiriamJuan Sánchez, the woman whose conviction and care made it possible.
We sat down with her to understand what drives her, how she sees Ibiza changing, and what she hopes for the island’s future.
Interview with Miriam Juan Sánchez, Sa Punta / Fish Shack
How did you first hear about Creatives for the Planet, and why did you choose to collaborate with us on these workshops?
I heard about Creatives For The Planet through Gabi, the partner of one of my best friends. He’s very involved in environmental activities and told me there were several associations on the island working to raise awareness through workshops. One of the first I contacted was yours. After the first workshop we did together, I really liked your way of working, your energy, and the way you communicate. Since then, we’ve collaborated every summer.
What inspired you to organise environmental education workshops at Sa Punta / Fish Shack this summer?
I’ve always believed that Sa Punta can be more than a place to eat or enjoy the sea. It can also be a meeting point where we learn to take care of our surroundings. We share so much with nature here that it just makes sense to give something back — especially by teaching the youngest to respect it.
What did you hope to convey to the children, artists, and experts who took part?
We wanted everyone to feel part of the same purpose: taking care of the island. Children bring curiosity, artists bring creativity, and experts bring knowledge. When you put all of that together, beautiful things happen.
Was there a moment from the workshops that particularly stayed with you?
Yes. There was one workshop where the children created art from recycled materials collected on the beach. Watching them transform trash into something meaningful was incredible. I think that’s when they truly understood that everything has value if you look at it differently.
This summer I was also touched to see that, after several years, they still remember what they learned in previous workshops — and how they connect that knowledge with the environment around them.
How do you feel Ibiza has changed in recent years in its relationship with nature and sustainability?
I think everything has become very overcrowded, especially in summer. And we’re facing problems with water scarcity, issues with local vegetation like pine forests, and even the decline of lizards. These are things we always took for granted, things that make our islands unique. But we’re genuinely at risk of losing these references if we don’t become more conscious and start taking better care of them.
What do you think the island needs most right now to move toward a more conscious and sustainable future?
Education and unity. If businesses, residents, institutions and visitors all row in the same direction, we can achieve a lot. But we need more collaboration and less individualism.
What role can places like Sa Punta / Fish Shack play in that change?
A small but important one. Many people pass through places like this every day. By setting an example — showing that you can enjoy Ibiza while taking care of it — we can inspire others.
What would you say to businesses that want to be more sustainable but don’t know where to start?
Start with something simple. You don’t need to change everything at once. Small habit changes make a difference. And don’t see it as an obligation — see it as a natural way of working.
If you could ask the local government for one thing to support these initiatives, what would it be?
Real support for small projects. Sometimes the best ideas come from the smallest places, but without resources it’s hard to keep them going. A bit of help can go a long way.
What would you wish from private individuals — both residents and visitors — to better care for Ibiza?
To treat the island as if it were their home. To understand that it’s not just a tourist destination but a living place that gives us so much, and we all need to take care of it.
If you had to describe the spirit of this summer’s workshops in one word, what would it be?
Connection — between people, with nature, and with the environment around us.
Do you plan to continue or expand these activities in the future?
Yes. People really enjoyed them and they leave a mark, so we want this to be part of Sa Punta every summer.
What do you hope people feel when they visit Sa Punta / Fish Shack and discover your commitment to the environment?
That they feel part of something beautiful. That they sense the love we have for the island, for the sea, for local products… and that caring for all of this can also be a way of enjoying it.
In a place where thousands come to disconnect, initiatives like these quietly reconnect us — to the island, to each other, and to the responsibility we share. Thanks to the vision of people like Miriam Juan Sánchez, Fish Shack is no longer just a stop by the sea. It has become a small but powerful beacon of awareness, reminding us that protecting Ibiza starts in the everyday: one clean-up, one conversation, one child’s curiosity at a time.
Text and Interview by: Sophia Brucklacher / Creatives For The Planet
Pictures: Team / Jorge Pines Bruges / Creatives For The Planet