It is now thirty years old, but "The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly", the well-known novel by Chilean writer Luis Sepúlveda, remains more relevant than ever. The story of Kengah, killed by oil shortly after laying her egg, could be that of countless other seagulls and marine animals.

There are approximately three hundred tankers that sail the Mediterranean Sea every day carrying petroleum products, the quantity of which is estimated at 350 million tonnes per year. And annual spills of hydrocarbons amount to around 600,000 tonnes. But that is not the only problem. Waste cooking oil, if not disposed of correctly, also has an extremely negative impact on the environment: just one litre of oil is enough to contaminate up to one million litres of water.

Hyundai's Mission to blue project

It is to help protect an essential resource such as our water heritage, on which climate, biodiversity and people's wellbeing all depend, that Hyundai Italia has launched its new project "Mission to blue". The initiative was presented on 16 December in Milan, at the local headquarters of the Associazione nazionale marinai d'Italia, during an event moderated by Roberto Sposini, editor-in-chief of LifeGate.

With this project, Hyundai officially joins the Water Defenders Alliance, the network coordinated by LifeGate that brings together companies, ports, individuals, institutions, and the worlds of scientific research and technological innovation, all actively collaborating to protect aquatic ecosystems by putting their expertise, resources and solutions at the service of the community.

The Water Defenders Alliance's FoamFlex technology

Always believing in the power of technological innovation, Hyundai has chosen to support the supply of special kits capable of absorbing oils and hydrocarbons accidentally spilled into water; cutting-edge tools that harness FoamFlex technology, an innovative solution patented by Italian company T1 Solutions, a LifeGate partner in the Water Defenders Alliance.

This sponge-like material, which is over 95 per cent hydrophobic and over 99 per cent oleophilic, is capable of retaining up to 100 per cent of hydrocarbons dispersed in water. Reusable up to two hundred times, just one kilogram of FoamFlex sponge can absorb up to six thousand kilograms of oils and hydrocarbons over its lifecycle, facilitating the recovery, collection and transformation of potential pollutants into new resources.

The role of innovative and collaborative approaches

"We must learn to show greater respect for the common good: technology is a valuable ally in this journey, helping us mitigate pollution and reduce our environmental impact," said Elena Grandi, councillor for Green Spaces and the Environment at the City of Milan.

"Hyundai has always believed in low-impact mobility and in the bond between industry and the local community. We are convinced that technological innovation must translate into real-world applications and improve individual aspects of everyday life, through a collective commitment," added Giulio Marc D'Alberton, head of PR & events at Hyundai Motor Company Italy.

It is precisely on collaboration that the work of the Water Defenders Alliance is founded — a virtuous network whose purpose is to connect the various stakeholders capable of providing concrete solutions to environmental problems. "We are convinced that from the union of experiences, capabilities and innovative tools, real change can emerge, both in the short and long term," commented Lajal Andreoletti, head of impact projects at LifeGate.

The use of FoamFlex sponges is "a simple, fast and effective method" for cleaning up water in the event of accidental — or even deliberate — spills, as Alessandro Taini, CEO of T1 Solutions, explained. And they work just as well at sea as in enclosed basins such as marinas. When saturated, they simply need to be wrung out, just like the ordinary sponges we all use every day: the Brescia-based company has developed dedicated machinery that allows this operation to be carried out manually.

Protecting the Darsena and the Navigli of Milan

The first kit has already been assigned to the Consorzio di bonifica Est Ticino Villoresi, for the protection of the Darsena and the Navigli of Milan, true symbols of the city that underscore its historic bond with water. "It is vitally important to safeguard the quality of these waters, which are also used for irrigation purposes. We will commit to strengthening our safety protocols and carrying out new drills to ensure we are always ready to respond in the event of an emergency," said Valeria Chinaglia, director general of the Consorzio di bonifica Est Ticino Villoresi.

"There are countless ecosystem services that our water heritage provides us, from agriculture to industry, through to tourism. A preventive approach is essential to protecting this heritage, through information, education and awareness. And prevention must be accompanied by the capacity to intervene effectively when threats arise," concluded Emilio Mancuso, president of Verdeacqua, marine biologist and scientific communicator for the Water Defenders Alliance.

The story of Sepúlveda's seagull reminds us that every human action has consequences for the environment around us. Today, however, alongside awareness, there are concrete tools available for taking action. Projects like "Mission to blue" demonstrate that collaboration between companies, institutions and research can translate into effective solutions for the protection of water resources. Because defending water means defending life, climate and the wellbeing of communities: a collective responsibility that can no longer be deferred.