Poecibis Park to Turn Sargassum Into Sustainable Products

Cancun, Quintana Roo — The state of Quintana Roo is taking ambitious steps to tackle the region’s chronic sargassum issue with the creation of a Circular Economy Park designed to repurpose the seaweed into sustainable products. The initiative is backed by federal and state governments, with environmental authorities partnering to turn an environmental problem into an economic opportunity.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Alicia Bárcena confirmed that President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a decree establishing these parks, including one in Quintana Roo focused on sargassum. Named Poecibis (Circular Economy Park for Well-being), the facility will produce items like bricks, charcoal, shoe soles, pencils, and eco-friendly dyes. Bárcena visited the state’s Sargassum Monitoring Centre, highlighting growing seaweed volumes—over 80,000 tons collected so far this year, with forecasts predicting record-breaking levels.

Governor Mara Lezama emphasized the project’s dual goals: safeguarding tourism and the environment. Quintana Roo depends heavily on its beaches, cenotes and reefs, yet recent years have seen sargassum influxes rising by around 40%, driven by nutrient runoff, warmer ocean temperatures, and changing currents. The Mexican Navy has stepped in, deploying vessels collected from critical zones like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

Poecibis aims to integrate diverse sargassum-based initiatives—from bricks to industrial materials—under one roof. Companies like Carbon Wear are already scaling up production of seaweed-derived materials. Legal developments have also framed sargassum as a fishery resource, enabling sustainable exploitation under regulated conditions.

The park project includes technical monitoring and multi-agency working groups, ensuring coordination between SEMARNAT, state agencies, and private industry. Environmental assessments are underway to confirm that new products are safe and free of heavy metal contamination .

As Cancún and the Riviera Maya brace for an anticipated seaweed surge, with over half a million metric tons projected in some zones, Poecibis offers a hopeful model: transforming a recurring nuisance into innovation and sustainable growth .

Why it matters:

• A Circular Economy Park channels sargassum into commercial goods like bricks and shoewear, creating jobs and reducing waste.
• Coastal communities foresee a dual benefit—environmental protection and economic growth.
• Backed by a federal decree, the initiative marks Mexico’s first large-scale attempt to institutionalize sargassum repurposing.

In summary, Poecibis represents a creative, regionally focused solution marrying sustainability and community well‑being, and it may serve as a blueprint for other Caribbean nations battling sargassum.