Erasmus+ Youth Exchange - Trash the Trends, Save the Planet - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Trash the Trends, Save the Planet - Erasmus+ Youth Exchange 

Plovdiv, Bulgaria | June 21–29, 2025
Project Number: 2024-3-BG01-KA152-YOU-000287513
Project Dates: Start – 29/05/2025 | End – 28/01/2026
Coordinating Organisation: Get Involved

From June 22 to 28, 2025, young people from Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Portugal (Azores), and Romania came together in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for a powerful Erasmus+ youth exchange focused on fast fashion, greenwashing, sustainable choices, and conscious consumerism.

The project “Trash the Trends, Save the Planet” was much more than just an educational experience—it was a journey of discovery, creativity, and connection. Through a rich programme of non-formal learning activities, the participants explored the hidden costs of fast fashion and greenwashing, while developing tools to take informed action in their communities.

Throughout the week, we:
►Traced the life cycle of clothing: from raw materials to production, use, and end-of-life, we looked closely at where our clothes come from and where they go.
►Became greenwashing detectives: we learned how to identify misleading claims and deceptive marketing tactics often used by major brands.
►Created digital storybooks: each international group designed an interactive digital resource to raise awareness about fast fashion, sustainability, and conscious consumerism.
►Reflected on personal values and habits: participants questioned their own roles as consumers and shared ideas for more sustainable choices.
►Performed role plays and real-life scenarios: from breaking news parodies to mock crisis meetings, we explored the human and environmental consequences of greenwashing.
​►Created digital storybooks to raise awareness and inspire others.
►Planned local events and campaigns: each national group developed an idea to spread the message in their own communities after the project.


But above all, this youth exchange was a space for connection, empathy, and shared purpose. From intercultural nights and city walks to late-night laughter and deep conversations, what truly made the project unforgettable were the friendships built along the way. Strangers became teammates, teammates became friends—and together, we discovered that the power to change the world starts with awareness, action, and unity.

Because fast fashion fades, but the impact stays.
And we choose to be part of the change.

INTRODUCING - OUR SERIES OF DIGITAL STORYBOOKS - made by our participants during the project
>> capturing what stood out to them on the topics of fast fashion, overconsumption, greenwashing, and sustainable alternatives.


► These creative educational resources reflect the PARTICIPNATS' personal research, perspectives, and interpretations.
► We encourage all readers to explore these topics further, fact-check using trusted sources, and keep learning beyond the content shared here.

*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Link to the the Video of the Spanish team - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1528187741476648

Link to the Video of the Bulgarian team - https://www.facebook.com/reel/1035336372136585/



Erasmus+ youth exchange – Trash the Trends, Save the Planet  -  From ideas to action: new project opportunities

Within the project, participants went through a brainstorming session, in which they developed new project ideas, building on the topics of sustainable consumption and “greenwashing”.

The best concepts were selected as real-world initiatives under “Erasmus+” and the European Solidarity Corps and were shared with partner organizations as opportunities for future implementation and cooperation.
  • “Green Detectives” (ESC Solidarity Project)
Young people create local campaigns to recognize greenwashing in their city – they analyze shops, brands and advertisements and present the results through exhibitions and social networks.
  • “From Waste to Worth” (Erasmus+ Youth Exchange)
An exchange in which participants create new products from old clothes (upcycling), combined with training in sustainable design.
  • “Fashion Behind the Label” (Erasmus+ Youth Exchange)
A project that explores what is behind labels – labor, resources, pollution. Participants create educational campaigns and short videos.
  • “Slow Fashion Communities” (ESC Solidarity Project)
Creating local clubs for sustainable consumption – clothing exchanges, repair workshops and discussions.
  • “Eco Influencers Lab” (Erasmus+ Youth Exchange / Training Course)
Young people are trained to create content on social networks that promotes sustainable lifestyles and exposes greenwashing.
  • “Youth for Sustainable Choices” (ESC Solidarity Project)
Youth initiative aimed at schools – interactive lessons and games on sustainable consumption and responsible choices.
  • “Clothes with a Story” (ESC Solidarity Project)
Young people collect old clothes from the community and create new products from them, adding a “story” to each piece of clothing – who donated it, how it was transformed and why sustainable consumption is important.

Here is a downloadable  version with all the ideas: