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Day 1

0.5 kg of plastic waste collected from rivers in Germany

Paddling for clean rivers and seas! Paddling for clean rivers and seas! Paddling for clean rivers and seas! Paddling for clean rivers and seas!

0.5 kg of plastic waste collected from rivers in Germany
Day 1
Less plastic waste in German waters

The salty air, the waves, the eternal blue. We humans are fascinated by the sea and the secrets it holds. We spend dream holidays on the beach, eat local fish dishes and, in some countries, enjoy the colorful biodiversity under water. But this idyll is under threat. Every year, around eight million tons of plastic waste end up in our seas (World Economic Forum, 2016). This corresponds to a truckload per minute. The waste threatens the health of seabirds, whales and many other large and small sea creatures, especially when the animals try to feed on the waste, injure themselves or get caught in it. The latter happens particularly often with fishing nets, the so-called ghost nets, which drift around the deep sea without an owner. Many animals lose their lives because of human waste. If nothing is done, our oceans could soon become seas of plastic, because many plastics take several hundred years to decompose. But it is not only marine animals that are affected by this enormous pollution. Initial studies have already shown that so-called microplastics are present in the human body. Only by acting quickly can we reduce pollution and secure the future of our oceans.

Less plastic waste in German waters
need
Protecting waters and the marine ecosystem by reducing plastic pollution.
activity
Organizing regular clean-up events to remove plastic waste from nature and raise awareness about the problem.
Measurable performance
Number of kg of plastic waste collected from nature and returned to the disposal cycle.
Result
Water pollution is reduced and people are made aware of the problem.
Systemically relevant impact
Marine ecosystems are less polluted and a change in awareness and sustainable use of the environment is taking place.
background

In 2016, around 335 million tonnes of plastic were produced worldwide, 60 million tonnes of which were produced in the EU (Plastics Europe, 2017). Plastic is described as the material of the 21st century and its properties make it versatile. But it also has disadvantages: if plastic gets into nature, it becomes a danger to animals, plants and probably also to humans. Our oceans and domestic waters are particularly affected, because a large proportion of the garbage that is not disposed of properly ends up there. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish (World Economic Forum/Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation, 2016). Plastic parts can already be found in the stomach contents of over 90 percent of seabirds. Around a million of them die every year because they have ingested plastic or become entangled in flotsam. Also affected so far are approximately 100,000 marine mammals and over 800 other species (Wilcox, 2015).

Shipping and fishing are not the only culprits: around 80 percent of the garbage ends up in the seas from the mainland via rivers. The Danube alone washes up to 1,500 tons of plastic waste into the Black Sea every year (Lebtron et al., 2017). Most of the garbage comes from carelessly discarded packaging and disposable products. In addition to targeted pollution reduction, a change in awareness must be initiated towards greater sustainability and more responsible use of resources.

Berlin, Germany
Day 1 Day 1
The good deed

With today's good deed, you are financing so-called CleanUp events that take place regularly throughout Germany. At these events, the Clean River Project team and volunteers paddle on rivers and clear sections of river of plastic waste. All participants lend a hand and actively remove environmental pollution. Many are very surprised at the huge amounts of garbage that can be found here... Afterwards, it's time for creative upcycling: the items found are transformed into photo artworks that are presented in exhibitions throughout Germany. This is intended to raise general awareness of the problem of garbage pollution in society, companies and politics and to sensitize people to dealing with garbage more consciously. If you want to do even more, you can get involved in environmental protection at other CleanUp events. Through active cleaning, education and sensitization, sustainable change can be achieved in the long term and positive change can be set in motion.

AboutGermany
Berlin
Berlin
Capital city
82,100,000
82,100,000
Population
46.136
46.136
Gross domestic product per capita per year
Rank 5 of 189
Rank 5 of 189
Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

Germany consumes the most plastic in the EU, accounting for 24.5 percent of total plastic consumption (Platics Europe, 2017). Many rivers as well as the North and Baltic Seas are polluted by plastic waste and microplastics can be detected in numerous bodies of water.
About the organization and further information

organization

Clean River Project eV

website

https://cleanriverproject.de

Further links