Responsible entity ministries and "Vrbas River Basin Coordination of Mayors" officially marked beginning of "Environmental Programme and the development of tourism in the river Vrbas basin”.

Protection of Vrbas river and planned use of its tourist and economic potential are the main objectives of the three-year program funded by the Government of Japan, Coca-Cola and Ekopak and implemented by United Nations Development Programme UNDP.

“The clean Vrbas Charter” signed Hideo Yamazaki, Ambassador of Japan, Zahira Virani, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP BiH, Srebrenka Golic, Minister of Physical Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology of the Government of Republika Srpska, Zineta Mujaković, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Mayors of Municipality of Banja Luka, Bugojno, Donji Vakuf Vakuf / Uskoplje, Jajce, Jezero, Kneževo, Kotor Varos, Laktaši, Mrkonjic Grad, Srbac i Šipovo, as well as Mircea Draja, GM of Coca-Cola HBC BH & HR and Amela Hrbat, director of Ekopak.

UNDP’S "Clean Vrbas" programme is the first program of this magnitude, which will bring together all of the municipalities of Vrbas River Basin, responsible entity and cantonal ministries and agencies, in order to prevent pollution of its water and banks, to help development of the economy and create new "green" jobs in local communities. In cooperation with municipalities, Ekopak will work to create conditions for waste reduction, selective collection of packaging waste and its recycling.