About Race for Water

The Swiss environmental conservation organization, the Race for Water Foundation, is doing researches on the status of marine pollution caused by plastic debris floating around the world. Large-scale ocean cleanup is standard as a mitigation measure against ocean pollution, but the foundation points out that it is “unrealistic” and aims to convert plastic waste into energy.

They embarked on a five-year voyage from 2017 to 2021 on a ship powered by a mix of solar, hydrogen, and kite energies, and are conducting awareness-raising activities on marine conservation at ports of call.

ZERI Japan agrees with the purpose of its activities and supports its operations in 2020 while the ship stays in Japan.

Race for Water Official Website　

https://www.raceforwater.org/en/

<About Race for Water>

In 2010, Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni created the Lausanne-based Race for Water Foundation and devoted every bit of his entrepreneurial spirit to the service for the oceans. Passionate about the sea, in 2015, he decided to launch a scientific and environmental expedition, the Race for Water Odyssey, to make the first global assessment of the plastic pollution of our oceans.

The findings are clear, “plastic islands” do not exist, so heading out to collect plastic waste at sea proves to be but a pipedream. Indeed, the soups of microplastics languish at the heart of the oceans, drifting in the oceanic gyres. “We very quickly became aware that the solution was on land. It is absolutely vital that we prevent plastic waste from reaching the oceans,” explains Marco Simeoni.

On 9 April 2017, Race for Water set sail around the world again, for a five-year Odyssey this time, to offer solutions for preserving the oceans from plastic pollution, an absolute environmental disaster on a planetary scale.

“In 2015, in light of this finding, we felt powerless against the sheer scale of the problem of plastic pollution of the oceans. With this 2017-2021 odyssey aboard our mixed solar-hydrogen-kite-powered vessel, we wish to demonstrate that sustainable solutions for ocean conservation do exist thanks to innovative technologies”, says Marco Simeoni, President of the Race for Water Foundation.

“Vision”

The Race for Water Foundation is dedicated to the preservation of the water and the oceans in particular. Today, severely under threat from plastic pollution, it is imperative that this essential resource for life is protected.

“Mission”

To prevent plastic waste from reaching the waterways and oceans by developing social models and business models that give value to plastic waste and hence encourage its collection.

“Program”

Since its creation in 2010, to maximize the impact of its actions, Race for Water has drawn up the LEARN – SHARE – ACT program:

LEARN

Gather together the scientific community to understand the impact of plastic pollution. Contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge regarding the pollution of water via plastics.

SHARE

Alert decision-makers, raise awareness among the general public and educate the young generations. Rally together around the importance of preserving water. Inform about the consequences of plastic pollution of the oceans.

ACT

Take action before waste enters the marine environment. Promote and implement solutions with sustainable environmental and social impact.