In the context of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 ResponSEAble project coordinated by ACTeon, Florence Krowicki & Pierre Strosser attended Micro 2016, the first international conference on Microplastics that took place in Lanzarote (Spain). They organized a side event focused on factors and pre-conditions for ocean literacy to be effective in supporting behavioural change so microplastics discharges to the seas are reduced and marine ecosystems preserved. The interactive side event addressed the following issues:

• How important are microplastics for each of us – and around us?
• Who is connected – directly and indirectly – to microplastics, and to the search for solutions that can reduce microplastics to the sea?
• How can I adapt my own activities and professional practices so as to reduce the release of microplastics to the sea?
• Addressing the “microplastics & sea” challenges: can we define priority(ies) (who, where, what, how)?

Excellent welcome by the Micro2016 organisers, well-attended side event, interesting and challenging contributions that will feed into ACTeon’s work on the value chain of microplastics carried out under ResponSEAble! Very short and targeted, but very enjoyable!