October 19, 2020 - The Croatian Drama and Author's Theater Festival, the 30th Marulic Days, will be held in Split from October 19 to 26, 2020. A total of 13 plays will take place, one of which will be performed in Zagreb. 

The director of the Festival and the intendant of HNK Split, Srećko Šestan, thanked all the theaters, especially HNK Zagreb and the intendant Dubravka Vrgoč, who, as he said, met them and allowed them to perform "Three Sisters" on its home stage, on the Lada premises. This year's jubilee edition of Marulic Days is dedicated to Rada Perković, the founder and first director of the festival, he emphasized.

"This year, we will stop the audience award because the audience in Split will not be able to see 'Three Sisters.' I hope that better moments and times will come so that the Split audience will see the play next season. Thanks also to all the other intendants of our theaters who come to Marulic Days. Our theater will respect all epidemiological recommendations, and the audience will be limited," said Sestan.

The selector of this year's festival, theater critic and playwright Gordana Ostović, said that out of 48 registered plays from Croatia, BiH, Serbia, and Hungary, she chose 13. Twelve are coming to Split, and only one, "Three Sisters," will be performed at the Zagreb HNK. 

"These are all performances that really answer contemporary questions of society; they most often talk about the family as a microcosm of society where society breaks down. These are the most common topics like thinking about going abroad in search of a better life, about how to save a business from decay," said Ostović.

She noted that the plays are very diverse, from witty to a little more tragic, but they all have very nice and humane messages.

As a different play in this year's selection of Marulic Days, she singled out "Domaše" of the Split City Puppet Theater, which sees the world from a different perspective. It is a play by Ana Marija Veselčić about growing up in a home where children see completely different problems. She also pointed out Mostar's "Identitluk," a play that talks about narrow-minded understandings of identity and a tragedy that shows who a man really is.

The dramaturg and producer of the 30th Marulic, Days Jasen Boko, added that the festival closes on October 26 with a play out of competition, a student play by the Zagreb Academy under the mentorship of Krešimir Dolenčić based on John Steinbeck's famous text "Of Mice and Men." At the closing of Marulic Days, he added, the audience will watch young actors out of the competition, who will probably dominate the stage and take awards in ten years.

Despite the situation, the festival will also have several accompanying programs.

"Traditionally, the first text that won the award for the best dramatic unperformed text for 2019 is read. It is Dino Pešut's 'Granatiranje,' which will be read by Split actors and students. We will also have a presentation about 30 years of Marulic Days, a presentation of the anthology Theater in Split and Split in Theater, and Nikola Batušić's book History of Croatian Theater," announced Boko.

The festival was scheduled to take place at the end of April but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and instead will take place from October 19 to 26. The festival's grand opening will be on October 20, when the Marin Držić Award for dramatic text will be presented.

Source: Culturenet.hr, More info HERE

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ZAGREB, October 19, 2020 - A member of the government's Scientific Council, epidemiologist Branko Kolaric, has expressed concern about Croatia's healthcare system becoming overloaded due to a surge in the daily number of coronavirus cases.

Speaking in an interview with the public television service HRT on Sunday evening, Kolaric was asked to comment on warnings from the scientific community that there were between 50,000 and 100,000 infected people in Zagreb and that over the next week Croatia might see 2,000 new infections daily, from the current 1,000.

Noting that he did not know what these estimates were based on, Kolaric said that it was possible that the number of daily cases would reach 2,000. "We have come from 500 to 1,000 daily infections and it is not impossible for this number to grow to 2,000," he said.

The epidemiologist said that the present attitude of the public towards the epidemiological measures in place and their adherence to these measures could lead to the public health system overloading. He said it was questionable whether the present measures were enough to reduce the number of new infections, expressing concern that the health system might become overburdened soon.

Today 548 people in Croatia are hospitalised for COVID-19, in neighbouring Slovenia the University Clinical Centre in Ljubljana is almost filled to capacity, while the Czech Republic has agreed with Germany on the possible treatment of its patients in Bavaria and Saxony, it was said.

Speaking of the number of hospitalised cases in Croatia, Kolaric said that the focus now was on COVID-19 cases and that there was less hospital capacity for treatment of other diseases.

Commenting on the interviewer's remark that the measures in place in Croatia were considerably milder than those elsewhere in Europe and whether tighter restrictions could be expected, Kolaric said that such decisions fell within the remit of the national coronavirus response team, but that he believed the measures would have to be tightened.

Health minister calls for more coronavirus testing points in Zagreb

Health Minister Vili Beros has called on the Croatian Public Health Institute, the Fran Mihaljevic Hospital for Infectious Diseases and the Andrija Stampar Teaching Institute for Public Health to urgently organise additional COVID-19 testing points in Zagreb so that people would not have to wait in kilometres-long lines.

"Our aim is to reduce the kilometres-long lines of people waiting to get tested. I am confident that all the competent authorities will find the way and space for additional testing," Beros said on Facebook on Sunday. 

In the last 24 hours, 286 new coronavirus cases have been identified in Zagreb and 830 people have been ordered to self-isolate. Currently, the number of active cases in the city stands at 1,336 and 6,410 people are in self-isolation.

ZAGREB, October 19, 2020 - A total of 393 new coronavirus cases and 11 related deaths have been recorded in Croatia in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Monday morning.

The number of active cases currently stands at 5,070. Among them are 571 people who are receiving hospital treatment and 35 of them are on ventilators.

Since February 25, when the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Croatia, 25,973 people have contracted the novel virus, of whom 374 have died and 20,529 have recovered, including 476 in the last 24 hours. A total of 21,329 people are currently in self-isolation.

To date, 400,636 people have been tested for coronavirus, including 3,636 in the last 24 hours.

October 19, 2020 – A Homeland War volunteer and his wife chose to live in the plains. The couple replaced Normandy with Baranja, and this is their story.

As Glas Slavonije reports, when in 1992, as a Homeland War volunteer, he joined Croatian Army units, Philippe Guerin, one of about 60 French volunteers who fought in the Homeland War, could not even dream that 30 years later he would move from his native Normandy to Croatia, Baranja, to a small village of Karanac. That is exactly what happened a few months ago.

No urban areas, nor the Adriatic coast

Philippe and his wife Jessie liked the "blue house" on Kolodvorska Street in Karanac. They did not think for too long and they soon became the owners of this property in the Baranja ethno village.

Before the war in Croatia, Philippe did not know much about the former Yugoslavia. In France, he was a professional soldier, a non-commissioned officer in the French army.

"With the fall of the Berlin Wall, I realized that the dangers of communism were gone. As a result, I left the army and got a job as a heavy truck driver,” says Philippe. In the early '90s, he lived with a girl who decided to go to the UK.

"If you go there, I will go to Croatia, where the war started," he told her. And it was like that.

At the beginning of 1992, he joined the HOS units in Zadar and later moved to Gromovi (thunder). When foreign volunteers left the Croatian Army, he ended up in Bosnian Posavina, and then in Široki Brijeg, in Mostar. All in all, he fought for approximately two years.

After returning to France, he took a job as a merchant in Cannes. It was preceded by the severance of an earlier relationship with a girl who had chosen the UK for her future life.

"I worked at Cannes until 1996 when I met an American officer through a friend who suggested that I join IFOR troops in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but not as a soldier, as a logistician. I came to the rehearsal and stayed. I ended up in Kosovo, but I didn't like it there. Returning home, in 2001, I was thinking about what to do next and decided to pursue tourism. I finished three years of college, in the meantime, I got married and together with my wife founded the Balkans Discovery Tours agency. One of the arrangements is a visit to Slavonia and Baranja," explains Philippe Guerin continuing that the decision was made to buy a house somewhere in Croatia. They were searching the ads for quite some time. Since they used to live in a village, they excluded urban areas, but also the Adriatic coast.

Village of Karanc in Baranja, Croatia, where the couple bought a house / Copyright Romulić and Stojčić

A small paradise for retirement

"Well done to Dalmatia, but our wish was plain. We gave up a beautiful house in Zagorje since it is a hilly area. We also liked the wooden house in Srb, but it is a village without a church and any Croatian flag. And, finally, Jessie showed me a blue house in Karanac. We called the owner, met with him, and bought an older house this summer," says Philippe.

He first placed a large mast with the Croatian flag and the Normandy flag in the yard and then began the reconstruction.

They decided to turn the house in Karanak into a small paradise that they will enjoy when they retire. Admittedly, Philippe will stay in it more often, and Jessie, who has her job in France, a bit less often.

'I do not intend to live in France anymore'

During his stay in Karanac, since August this year, Philippe has been working on the renovation every day. He's planning a lot. After changing the roof, he will build a summer terrace and a mechanical workshop. He will turn one room into a library, and in the attic, he plans to make an exhibition space for his collection of old telephones, gramophones, phonograms, military helmets, etc.

"I do not intend to live in France anymore. I am annoyed by the politicians there, the laws, immigration... You say that the tax in Croatia is high, and in France, you would kill yourself by paying it," says Philippe.

This is not the first older property he's bought. In France, he is the owner of a 13th-century castle, which he has completely restored. They like it in Baranja. Friendly people, excellent gastronomic offer, peace, and tranquility, are only a small part of the reasons why Baranja has already grown close to their hearts.

Philippe does not drink alcohol, but he knows that there are top wines in Baranja, which Jessie confirms.

"But I can't understand that most people pour water into wine. We don't do it in France. You should enjoy pure wine,” explains Philippe.

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October 20, 2020 - The first 2 days of Croatia's first digital nomad conference had plenty of stimulating content from all over the world. Some thoughts on Croatia's positioning and how to take advantage.  

One of the things I have noticed over the years in Croatia is how new ideas are usually met with skepticism or are immediately dismissed. It seems at times that positive initiatives are somehow almost not welcome. 

This time it is different. When I first started to write about the potential of digital nomad tourism in Croatia almost 18 months ago, the reaction was initially lukewarm, but it soon warmed up. A common perception was that digital nomads were bloggers and influencers (which they can be, but there are SO many more types of remote workers, from company CEOs to consultants), and the topic was not that interesting or significant. Two things happened to change the discussion. 

The first, of course, was the global pandemic. With so many people forced to work from home, the reality of remote working entered the national discussion for the first time properly.  Working from home has its pros and cons and is not for everyone, but the enforced new circumstances due to corona helped raise awareness about remote working in a way no campaign could have done. 

The second thing was the focused campaign of Split-based Dutch entrepreneur Jan de Jong for the introduction of a digital nomad visa for Croatia. Just 44 days after an open letter to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on LinkedIn,  the PM tweeted his assent, and legislation was introduced to Parliament the following day. 

During the summer. 

Croatian legislation and the adoption of a new idea has never moved that quickly in the 18 years I have lived in this beautiful country. People started to take notice. A prime minister reacting so proactively, the increased profile of remote working due to the pandemic, and the realisation that Croatia's current model of accidental tourism is not sustainable. Could digital nomad tourism be a new source of year-round tourism?

One of the things I am enjoying about this particular journey is how people's eyes are opened to the opportunity afforded by becoming a leading destination for digital nomads (my eyes included). The easiest way to explain it in a nutshell is very simple. 

More and more of us around the world are now working in the same office. It is called the Internet. There are only two variables in this global office - connectivity (3G, 4G, 5G) and time zones. Apart from that, we are all in the same office. When we leave the office, we go home. Many people want to go home to the village they are from, their family and friends. 

An increasing number of people want to go home to lifestyle and experiences, and the flexibility of the office is allowing them to choose locations all over the world to compliment their lifestyle.  

Croatia is the lifestyle capital of Europe. Great weather, safe, accessible, affordable, full of natural beauty, great food and wine, things to do, EU member, offering culture and authentic experiences in abundance. Why not go for a swim in the Adriatic before dinner when you leave the office, for example?

The quickest official apart from the prime minister to grasp the opportunity was the Mayor of Dubrovnik, Mato Frankovic. I met Mayor Frankovic in late July and pitched a concept from our partners, Saltwater, to hold an international digital nomad competition to help the city develop a hands-on strategy for digital nomad tourism, working with international nomads, whose experience and input could help shape the city's direction in this new opportunity. Having spent a lot of my time in official offices during my time in Croatia, I was impressed with the speed of the response from Dubrovnik.  Not only did Mayor Frankovic agree to our proposal (which will take place in April - more below), but he also declared that he was open to any new initiatives. 

(The Lazareti, the original quarantine premises for the Dubrovnik  Republic, which is where the first digital nomad conference in Croatia was held)

Which is how 'Dubrovnik for Digital Nomads', the first digital nomad conference in Croatia, came about. 

It was quite an event, and one which will continue until the end of European Freelancer Week on October 25, but with the main focus on the two-day conference which ended on Saturday. 

I have already written about some of the highlights - the view from British Columbia and why Croatia has the potential to be the number one digital nomad destination in the world. 

Fresh from advocating for the nomad visa, Jan de Jong announced the formation of the Croatian digital nomad association, together with conference organiser Tanja Polegubic from Saltwater, and Karmela Tancabel. 

And - in possibly the announcement of the conference - Glavic Clinic offered free 12-month healthcare for digital nomads in Dubrovnik who have the visa. 

(TCN with conference organiser Tanja Polegubic from Saltwater, Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepsic and Mayor Mato Frankovic - Photos Cyndia Burkhardt)

The Glavic Clinic free healthcare announcement certainly got people talking, and I will be interviewing the Glavic presenter at the conference, Nikolina Kurtela, shortly for more details, but the generous gesture pointed to an interesting path for Croatia in this new journey - the willingness of the private sector to get involved and make this new departure a success. Most people realise that tourism will not be the same again, and it Croatia can build the foundations of digital nomad services (which go far beyond a bed and decent WiFi), there is a real opportunity to develop the sector into one which will contribute significantly, both to the economy and the mindset. 

Mayor Frankovic certainly confirmed his full support for the initiative during the close panel hosted by Tanja, which also included Dubrovnik Tourism Board director Ana Hrnic, Jan de Jong and myself. There is a lot of work ahead to prepare for the international digital nomad competition in the city in April, which will give the city and wider a region to better understand and adapt to the needs of this new breed of visitor while developing a strategy in partnership with international nomads over a one-month period. 

One of the key positives of the conference was the announcement of the Digital Nomad Association, which will be initially spearheaded by both Jan and Tanja. The new association will focus on five key areas of education, information, community, certification, and representation. In Jan and Tanja, the association could not have better ambassadors, and their combined vision and drive will steer this initiative in the right direction. 

One of the key areas for Croatia's potential success is going to be on pricing, particularly in accommodation. There is a tendency here to accept long-stay guests, only to terminate the contract in time for the tourism season. As more nomads come, and the community grows, the association's plans for accreditation of nomad-friendly accommodation will be important. 

Price will also be a factor in the visa, and here Croatia has a fantastic opportunity to get things right. As Kashlee Kacheran from Travel Off Path explained in her excellent presentation, the six nomad visas currently available around the world are wildly different in their conditions. The most expensive one, for example, is a whopping $3,000, while minimum income requirements of 3,500 euro a month in Estonia and $5,000 a month in Dubai, will exclude a significant number of would-be nomads. The terms are more favourable on Caribbean islands such as Anguilla, but with a population of just 15,000, one wonders how exciting life will be once the honeymoon beach and sunshine period has worn off. 

Details of the Croatian visa are still being worked out, and nothing has been officially announced yet, but my understanding is that the basic requirements will include that application can prove that they have no criminal record, health insurance, and a level of income. That amount will be significantly lower than Estonia, at least in my opinion, as this is a great opportunity to have social media savvy nomads who are not earning megabucks enjoying Croatia and telling the world about it - you can't beat word of mouth recommendation for effective marketing. In terms of timing, de Jong explained that several ministries are proactively working on the details, in coordination with one of the tax architects of the Estonian visa, and he expects the legislation to be wrapped up by the end of the year, with the visa available in the first quarter of 2021. 

There was quite a lot of comment in certain nomad Facebook groups that Dubrovnik is not a great digital nomad destination due to its high cost and with little to do. 

I disagree. 

One of the reasons we pitched the international digital nomad competition in Dubrovnik is that it currently suffers from an image problem of being a popular place to visit (I was genuinely surprised at the number of nomads who came to the conference, and even more who commented on social media that they were also nomading in or around the city) of being expensive with little to do outside the city walls. When the proposal was put together back in July, the monthly cost of living on Nomad List was cheaper in Dubrovnik than both Barcelona and Berlin - popular nomad hangouts.

(Villa Ruza on Kolocep - just 30 minutes from Dubrovnik by regular ferry)

But seeing Dubrovnik as just the old town is a huge mistake in my opinion. You can get the very best out of this majestic city while enjoy a completely different - and significantly cheaper - experience close by, with easy access to the city whenever you want. One of the highlights of my summer was the wonderful island of Kolocep, just 30 minutes from Dubrovnik harbour by regular ferry, but a world away.  (Learn more in Arise Kalamota! Kolocep, 30 Mins from Dubrovnik But a World Away). 

Look at Dubrovnik region, rather than just the city, and a whole new world opens up. From the diverse island beauties of the Elaphiti, Lastovo, Mljet and Korcula, UNESCO World Heritage Sites nearby in neighbouring countries such as the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro and Mostar's famous Old Bridge, to the wine roads of Peljesac and traditional Konavle way of life, there is so much more to Dubrovnik that the city walls and all that is contained therein. And, just as the tourism offer is diverse, so too is the makeup of the digital nomad. Those on higher incomes may be happy paying the coffee prices on Stradun, while those on a budget might settle for a longterm rental in a nearby village on the water., coming into the city on the regular bus service when the need arises. 

This brings us to one of the greatest things that Croatia has to offer digital nomads - choice. 

It is perfectly possible to spend time and have an excellent remote working experience in Croatia (and many do) without ever visiting Dubrovnik. On a budget? This single female digital nomad from Denver had an incredible six months in Osijek, one of the best places she had ever lived. Key pluses - price, people, nature, beauty, Internet, gourmet.   As thousands emigrate from Osijek as there is no perceived opportunity, here is someone who had an incredible and affordable experience having originated from the other side of the world. 

(Living the digital nomad lifestyle at Panorama Penthouse Jelsa on Hvar)

The current nomad hot spot in Croatia I would say is Split, which offers arguably the best combination of lifestyle, expat community, accessibility to islands and social life. Zagreb, however is not far behind, and we have just rented our apartment on Hvar for the month of October (another perceived expensive destination) to two nomads from Holland, who arrived with their bikes. When they are not working and drinking coffee on the terrace overlooking the Adriatic under Hvar's famous sunshine, they are exploring the island by bike. An idyllic life. Not for everyone, of course, but highly suited to this type of nomad. 

Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia, continental Croatia - filled with incredible and diverse experiences, some with different price tags, but all offering the same thing in an increasingly uncertain world - safety, authentic experiences and the unbeatable lifestyle. 

And with the 12-month visa imminent, why not discover the lifestyle that suits you, from rural Slavonia to Dubrovnik's Stradun. Or try it all at your leisure. The complete Croatian experience from East to West, North to South, is extraordinary.

For more on the emerging digital nomad scene in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN news section. 

As Morski writes on the 19th of October, 2020, after two days, the ecological action Think Green on the island of Vis in the town of Komiza came to an end. The Komiza Think Green action was in actual fact 20 actions in a row. The main organisers of the ecological action and holders of the Think Green project are the Diving Club Roniti se Mora and National Geographic Croatia, as well as other partners of the Komiza Tourist Board, British Embassy Zagreb, Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, CIOS, Mares, Jamnica, Garmin, ESET NOD32, Zagrebacke pekarne Klara, Medvedgrad Brewery, Perutnina Ptuj, DVD Komiza, DC Manta, DC B-24, DC Issa, Nautical Centre Komiza, Geopark Vis, Modra Spilja, Morski HR and Scubalife.

The seabed in Komiza and Gusarica beach were cleaned by as many as 50 dedicated divers and several volunteers from along the coast, who were joined by the locals of Komiza. Over 200 bags of various waste, dozens of car tyres and batteries, fenders from boats, a hundred metres of steel cables, old pots and chairs were taken out, which were taken care of by the employees of Komiza's communal board. Approximately 1.5 tonnes of bulky waste and waste in bags were collected in total.

Diving parachutes, hooks and boats were used to extract large pieces of debris, and the situation with waste at such busy, semi-closed, micro-locations is of course not satisfactory. After such actions, no one expects the seabed to be completely cleaned, but the educational effect is immeasurable.

Several hundred kilograms of removed waste and garbage aren't negligible, but the real goal of such eco-actions is not only cleaning but also educating citizens, encouraging more responsible behaviour and pointing out the growing danger of pollution. The real goal is to act on awareness and reduce pollution, and only then remediation. The Komiza Think Green action achieved both goals in the right way.

Perhaps the biggest undertaking of this action was the waterfront in Komiza, around which almost most of the waste was removed, while mostly plastic packaging and small items were found on Gusarica beach.

''We're happy and privileged that we were able to donate part of the equipment to the diving club. The best side of this donation is that this equipment will remain in the club and will be used not only in this action on Vis but also in future actions of cleaning waste from the Adriatic sea and beaches, probably one of the most beautiful coasts in the world,'' said British Ambassador to Croatia Andrew Dalgleish.

The United Kingdom is already fully "thinking green" - fighting climate change and cleaning up the environment - and this is an important focus of our action, especially this year, as in exactly one year the UN Conference on Climate Change will be held in our country, in Glasgow. The UK has already committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050, we've banned the use of micro-plastic particles in cosmetic products, and they usually end up right in the seas and oceans. We protect our natural habitats and ecosystems in collaboration with other countries and communities. And just last week, Prince William launched the Earthshot Award, the most prestigious global award in history, which should inspire us and give even more impetus to efforts to "fix" our planet over the next 10 years, and that decade is crucial for the Earth,'' said Dalgleish.

The decisions we make and the actions we take now will have a direct impact on the environment we leave to future generations. We, each of us, are responsible for the actions that will help or hurt our environment,'' concluded the British ambassador.

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October 19, 2020 - The latest news for flights to Croatia as Aeroflot will not return to Zagreb this winter, suspending operations on the Moscow Zagreb route. 

Croatian Aviation reports that Russia's national airline will not return to Zagreb airport this winter. Aeroflot suspended operations on the Moscow-Zagreb route during the pandemic and did not operate on it in the summer flight schedule this year.

Under normal circumstances, Aeroflot operated on the Moscow-Zagreb route daily, in both summer and winter schedules. After the outbreak of the pandemic, the company stopped traffic on this line and the possibility of re-establishing flight operations in the winter flight schedule was left as an option, but after the number of infected people in Croatia (as well as in other countries across Europe) increased again, the company closed sales on the Moscow-Zagreb line for the entire winter flight schedule 2020/2021.

Zagreb is no exception in this case, as Aeroflot has drastically reduced the number of its destinations in Europe and the world.

This summer, Aeroflot, along with Zagreb, did not operate to the other two destinations in Croatia, Split and Dubrovnik, although flights to Split were announced from August this year. However, in early May, Aeroflot landed at Zagreb Airport with a B777-300ER aircraft without passengers, transporting humanitarian aid from China via Moscow to Zagreb.

The first regular flight between Zagreb and Moscow is currently announced for March 28, 2021, when the summer flight schedule also begins. The capitals of Russia and Croatia will be without a direct air connection for more than a year.

However, not all hope is lost for Zagreb. Croatian Aviation recently announced that Dutch airline KLM is offering daily flights between Amsterdam and Zagreb until the end of November this year.

The company plans to operate daily on this line in November, with E190 aircraft, with a capacity of 100 passengers. The daily direct connection between Zagreb and Amsterdam is extremely important, primarily because it is possible to continue the journey through Amsterdam to a number of European and world destinations.

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As Poslovni Dnevnik/Lucija Spiljak writes on the 19th of October, 2020, For more than 40 years, Vuplast has been producing and processing plastics, and during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, their degradable "biohazard" bag has been popular. It is made of 100% recyclable material, which decomposes when washed, without negative effects on the washing machine, and is used by hospitals, kindergartens and homes for the elderly.

“It feels wonderful when you're an entrepreneur and get one such recognition. We hope that they will recognise our positive business strategy ", said Ivan Marcius, head of business logistics at Vuplast.

Degradable and not harmful to the environment

"So far, we 've used more than 50 tonnes of recycled plastic that stood as waste and used it to fight the spread of the pandemic. By combining recycled PE-LD material and water-soluble PVA material, we've devised a way that damp clothing, bedding and textiles in general can be placed in such a bag, and it's safe to close it, too. We sell a set/box containing 100 yellow bags with a press for washing contaminated clothes, two red bags with a press for disposing of the rest of the yellow bags after the washing process because it can be used for further recycling, 102 laces for closing yellow and red bags, the confirmation of the disinfection of the product and the packaging process and instructions for use. They're strong and provide excellent insulation and are much more resistant to mechanical and chemical damage compared to 100% soluble washable bags. They can withstand up to 10 kilograms of textiles with proper handling, while for comparison, about 100 kilograms can be placed in 100% soluble PVA bags,'' explained Vuplast's Marcius. The project, which they themselves coordinated and led, employed 35 people during the largest orders.

Vuplast is also engaged in research in collaboration with their partner institutes and laboratories where they want to scientifically prove that 100% soluble PVA bags are more harmful to the environment. “When hospitals use our bags, we can recycle them after washing. When using a 100% soluble PVA washing bag, melt the complete bag and drain the material into the drain. We're the only manufacturer of such products and everyone feels safe when they use our bags. This was recognised by European hospitals and laundries that turned to our bags. We worked day and night to deliver our products to everyone,'' pointed out Marcius.

Their clients here in Croatia are mainly food companies, the pharmaceutical industry, utilities and hospitals. He says that he will earn more than last year, and this year they didn't ask for incentives and support for preserving jobs. The company also distributes toilet paper, sheets, kitchen towels, napkins and soaps, as well as producing PVC wrappers, folders, binders and liners. It currently has four employees, and new job positions are planned.

''It’s important that we have work to do''

Vuplast has customers all over the EU, and they recently exported bags for washing contaminated clothes to Switzerland. Them being chosen as the best entrepreneurial story will help them, the host added, to further market this product. They will apply for the Increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in manufacturing industries project in order to reconstruct their existing storage and production facilities and invest in the construction of a solar power plant that would be sufficient for their production.

''We'll also build new production facilities where we'll have the highest hygiene standards so that we can make further progress in packaging and production for large pharmaceutical companies. We're also planning a small logistics distribution centre for our products. It's important that we have a job and that our workers are satisfied,'' concluded Vuplast's Ivan Marcius.

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