By actively participating in the LifeGate PlasticLess initiative — with the installation of Seabin devices in three Italian ports to remove plastics, microplastics and fibres from our seas — Volvo Car Italia underscores its commitment to the environment.
Around 1.5 kilograms per day, over half a tonne of plastic waste per year. This is the collection capacity of Seabin, the innovative bin for collecting plastic that has ended up in our seas and which forms the operational arm of LifeGate PlasticLess, the initiative aimed at reducing waste and marine litter in Italian seas and ports. Volvo Car Italia is actively participating in the project: thanks to this collaboration, one bin is now operational at Marina di Varazze, and two more are in place at the ports of Marina di Cattolica (Rn) and Venezia Certosa Marina (Ve).
"We are pleased to have entered the operational phase of the project, positioning the first devices in Italian ports, a natural accumulation point for floating waste. Expanding the Seabin network is a primary objective of the initiative, because it represents a concrete solution that supports the collection of plastics and microplastics and complements the important work of raising public awareness about the impact of everyday actions on the health of our seas, and about prevention through the conscious use of plastic materials," said Enea Roveda, CEO of LifeGate.
The Seabin V5 devices will be able to collect the most common waste that ends up in our seas, from plastic bags to cigarette butts, as well as microplastics from 5 to 2 millimetres in diameter and microfibres from 0.3 millimetres.
"Volvo has historically been committed to reducing its environmental impact, and the LifeGate PlasticLess project is an example of how Volvo does not simply raise awareness on sustainability but also takes direct action," said Michele Crisci, president of Volvo Car Italia, in a statement. "The parent company, through the Volvo Ocean Race, has set the main course with the objective of fighting the scourge of plastics in our seas; it is therefore our duty, in individual countries and at a local level, to act accordingly and make a tangible contribution to solving one of our planet's greatest ills."
The car manufacturer's active collaboration in Italy connects to Volvo Cars' commitment at a global level, contributing to research into the health of the marine environment in some of the most remote parts of the world's oceans, including measuring microplastic levels. This initiative was launched alongside the Volvo Ocean Race, an epic sailing race that crosses the oceans and sees the boats equipped with sensors to monitor the waters sailed during the regatta. As part of the project, Volvo Cars produced a special edition of the V90 Cross Country, fitted with interior upholstery made from Econyl, a fabric made from 100 per cent recycled nylon, including that recovered from abandoned fishing nets retrieved from the seabed.
In keeping with its environmental sustainability activities, Volvo Cars recently announced its intention to eliminate all single-use plastic from the offices, canteens and events run by the car manufacturer. "Plastic pollution is one of the great environmental challenges of our time," said Stuart Templar, Head of Sustainability at Volvo Cars. "We take the responsibility we have in this regard very seriously. We must do our part to contribute to solving this problem, which concerns the entire world." According to the Swedish company, this will be a gradual process, one that would lead to the elimination of more than 500 single-use plastic items per employee and that will result in the replacement, in 2018 alone, of over 140 tonnes of single-use plastic items with products made from alternative, non-plastic materials.
A sign that, with the commitment and clear stance of major brands and large industrial groups, a problem that concerns the entire planet can be contained, if not indeed resolved.