Joint initiative for clean rivers with everwave, BABOR BEAUTY GROUP and Ferry Porsche Foundation

No life without water – this valuable and life-sustaining resource deserves special protection. The effects of climate change as well as global pollution of waterways are major challenges that we want to counteract positively.

11/06/2022 Reading Time: 2 min

In April 2022, the Audi Environmental Foundation, together with its cooperation partners everwave, BABOR BEAUTY GROUP and, new on board, the Ferry Porsche Foundation, started another cleanup mission. This time, the smart garbage collection boat CollectiX was deployed on a tributary of the Danube in Romania for five weeks. More than five boatloads of plastic and other waste were collected daily, which were then professionally disposed of at a local recycling center.

 

The highly efficient boat uses sensors to collect information about the composition of the waste, which means that long-term solutions and prevention concepts can be developed for the region.

 

“Each of us four partners pursues the vision of making our contribution to environmental protection. Thanks to our cooperation, we were able to double the operating time of the boat this year compared to last year. This shows that teamwork is the key to success,” says Rüdiger Recknagel, Managing Director of the Audi Environmental Foundation.

 

Parallel to the campaign, joint land-based plogging events and cleanup activities were organized.

2021

More details

Different industries – a common goal: Clean waterways

Together with the green startup everwave and the German cosmetics manufacturer BABOR we will start n initiative in 2021 to take action against the pollution of flowing waters.

As part of this cooperation, several actions will take place throughout the year – including information events, campaigns at the partners’ locations and cleanup activities.

Milestones of the mission

  • 12 April 2021 launching ceremony | Our joint cleanup initiative with the startup everwave and the cosmetics company Dr. BABOR GmbH, the use of the CollectiX garbage collection boat, is now becoming concrete. The ship was christened "Clean Future", so now it can be sent on its journey.

    12 April 2021 launching ceremony | Our joint cleanup initiative with the startup everwave and the cosmetics company Dr. BABOR GmbH, the use of the CollectiX garbage collection boat, is now becoming concrete. The ship was christened "Clean Future", so now it can be sent on its journey.

  • 19 April 2021 Transport to Serbia| The place of action of the "Clean Future" will be the Danube River in Serbia. Today the boat was loaded in Germany for the transport to Serbia. The Danube is one of the dirtiest rivers in Europe, flowing through many countries and finally into the Black Sea.

    19 April 2021 Transport to Serbia| The place of action of the "Clean Future" will be the Danube River in Serbia. Today the boat was loaded in Germany for the transport to Serbia. The Danube is one of the dirtiest rivers in Europe, flowing through many countries and finally into the Black Sea.

  • 21 April 2021 Start of mission| Today the mission started! The “Clean Future” arrived in Serbia and will collect the litter floating in the water along the Danube and its tributaries at the many garbage hotspots. With a conveyor belt, the CollectiX boat can remove up to 20 tons of all types of waste from the river per day.

    21 April 2021 Start of mission| Today the mission started! The “Clean Future” arrived in Serbia and will collect the litter floating in the water along the Danube and its tributaries at the many garbage hotspots. With a conveyor belt, the CollectiX boat can remove up to 20 tons of all types of waste from the river per day.

  • 22 April 2021 World Earth Day Plogging | It is the second day of the CollectiX garbage collection campaign in Serbia. Today we also start a plogging campaign on World Earth Day at the Audi locations with 100 participants. Due to the pandemic, all participants collect garbage individually on a route of their own choice.

    22 April 2021 World Earth Day Plogging | It is the second day of the CollectiX garbage collection campaign in Serbia. Today we also start a plogging campaign on World Earth Day at the Audi locations with 100 participants. Due to the pandemic, all participants collect garbage individually on a route of their own choice.

  • 28 April 2021 | The first week is over. Our garbage collection boat ‘Cleanfuture’ has been picking up the garbage rubbish around the floating restaurants. We removed a lot of waste, especially plastic bottles and bags. Week two starts now: In the coming days, the boat will head for an island in the middle of the Danube and will clean the bay area around that is repeatedly flooded with litter.

    28 April 2021 | The first week is over. Our garbage collection boat ‘Cleanfuture’ has been picking up the garbage rubbish around the floating restaurants. We removed a lot of waste, especially plastic bottles and bags. Week two starts now: In the coming days, the boat will head for an island in the middle of the Danube and will clean the bay area around that is repeatedly flooded with litter.

  • 05 May 2021 | End of mission | Today the mission of the garbage collection boat in Serbia ends. The campaign was a great success! Over three tons of plastic waste could be taken out of the water. And not only garbage was collected, but also important data on the composition of the garbage carpets, that allows valuable conclusions to be drawn about the causes of the pollution. Many thanks to our local cooperation partners, the environmental NGO Udruzenje 3e, the University of Belgrade and local companies who actively supported the campaign.

    05 May 2021 | End of mission | Today the mission of the garbage collection boat in Serbia ends. The campaign was a great success! Over three tons of plastic waste could be taken out of the water. And not only garbage was collected, but also important data on the composition of the garbage carpets, that allows valuable conclusions to be drawn about the causes of the pollution. Many thanks to our local cooperation partners, the environmental NGO Udruzenje 3e, the University of Belgrade and local companies who actively supported the campaign.

CollectiX garbage collection boat

CollectiX garbage collection boat

Kickoff and highlight is the CollectiX garbage collection boat of everwave that will collect litter floating in the Danube for several days.

Next to our collaboration with CLEAR RIVERS and our cleanups, this initiative strengthens our engagement for clean waterways.

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Your Audi Environmental Foundation Team