With magnetic rods and small metal spheres you can truly build anything: so why not think about building a better world too? With this aim in mind, Geomagworld, a leading company in the toy sector headquartered in Switzerland, has decided to join the LifeGate PlasticLess^® project by contributing to the installation of a plastic-eating bin to reduce pollution in our seas.

The inauguration of the Seabin at Marina degli Aregai

The inauguration event for the new device took place in Santo Stefano al Mare, at Marina degli Aregai at the Aregai Marina Hotel on 10 September. Those in attendance included Filippo Gallizia, General Manager of Geomagworld, Marco Scajola, Regional Councillor for Urban Planning, Territorial Planning and Construction, Giovanni Berrino, Councillor for Employment Policies, Transport, Tourism and Personnel, Admiral Nicola Carlone, Maritime Director of Liguria, Sabina Airoldi, Project Director and Scientific Coordinator of the Tethys Institute, and Enea Roveda, CEO of LifeGate. The host was Beatrice Parodi, President of the Cozzi Parodi group.

The Seabin, the device chosen by LifeGate PlasticLess^®, has been positioned in the marina of Marina degli Aregai (Imperia): active 24 hours a day, it will be able to capture up to 1.5 kg of plastic waste per day thanks to wave motion and the spontaneous action of the wind, amounting to half a tonne of debris per year, including microplastics larger than 2 mm in diameter and microfibres from 0.3 mm.

"We are delighted to begin this collaboration with Geomagworld, a valuable ally in the first Italian initiative aimed at cleaning the seas of plastic waste," explains Enea Roveda. "After the success of the first year of activity, the goal is to continue along this path to expand the presence of LifeGate PlasticLess^® Seabins across the country and the rest of Europe, reduce plastic waste in the waters of our seas, lakes and rivers, and raise greater awareness of this environmental issue, which is so important today."

Environmental responsibility for Geomagworld

"The issue of environmental responsibility is fundamental to our company," commented Filippo Gallizia. "We have always combined the quality of our toys with the high level of sustainability of our production site, but we decided to do more. We are working every day to improve our business model, starting from production processes and extending to marketing initiatives." As early as 2020, Geomagworld chose to replace the plastic materials in its products with recycled polymers, with the aim of converting almost the entire production over the coming years.

"At the same time," Gallizia continued, "we seek to pursue our educational purpose by spreading positive messages of respect for the environment, including through our ambassadors, such as Ambrogio Beccaria, who in just a few days' time will take on the Mini Transat ocean race aboard his boat, aiming to minimise the environmental impact of his crossing. It is also thanks to Ambrogio and my personal passion for sailing that we realised the urgency of doing something to protect our seas. Through joining the LifeGate PlasticLess^® project and sponsoring a new Seabin, we believe we are making a small but significant contribution in this direction, certain that great results are achieved by combining concrete actions with consistency and conviction."

Cover photo © Geomagworld