The city of Senj has won first place in the small cities category of the 'From Source to Sea' ecological project for 2026, confirming its long-standing commitment to environmental conservation. For this achievement, Senj received an award of 15,000 euros designated for urban tree planting.
Urban afforestation in Senj began with the planting of the first tree at the southern entrance to the city, near the roundabout, where a total of 50 hornbeam and cypress trees were planted on 5 November 2026 at several locations, including children's playgrounds. This planting is part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing the number of trees in the city, which contributes to creating shade, reducing ground heating, absorbing carbon dioxide, improving air quality, and creating microhabitats for birds and other small animals.
The 'From Source to Sea' project was launched by Coca-Cola in Croatia in 2018, with the aim of raising awareness about the importance of responsible handling of packaging waste, as well as protecting and cleaning areas along rivers, lakes and the coastline. The project is implemented in cooperation with government institutions and civil society associations, and is supported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at the University of Zagreb. Numerous partners are also involved in its implementation, such as Konzum, which joined in 2022, and Jutarnji List, which has been part of the initiative for the past four years.
Senj is known for its traditional environmental cleanup actions. In the spring cleanup of the Senjska Draga area, which is important due to its numerous sources of drinking water, more than 120 volunteers participated, collecting nearly 32 tonnes of waste. Participants included members of various local associations and clubs, as well as citizens, confirming a shared responsibility for environmental conservation. The Mayor of Senj, Željko Tomljanović, emphasised that caring for the environment is a shared responsibility of the local community.
In 2026, the 'From Source to Sea' project included a total of 29 cities and more than 1,800 volunteers who collected 215 tonnes of packaging waste. Since the start of the project, 158 cleanup actions have been organised, involving more than 13,800 volunteers who collected a total of 1,146 tonnes of waste. A total of 45,000 euros was distributed this year for tree planting and urban afforestation, and the project was further expanded with support of 10,000 euros for the construction of a public drinking water fountain, which was awarded to the City of Vodice.
Dalibor Vujnić, Coca-Cola’s regional sales manager for western Croatia, and Sandra Čičak, regional manager of Konzum in the West Region, also highlighted the importance of such projects in promoting responsible behaviour towards the environment and the joint contribution to the preservation of nature.
