Anna Rosbach, MEP
“Please watch this short video demonstrating the use of the innovative collection technology created for this project.”
Waste Free Oceans is an industry-led initiative with the aim of reducing floating marine debris on coastlines by 2020. Using existing fishing trawls and new technology, WFO will engage fishing community in cleaning up floating marine debris and bring it back to land for recycling and sorting. The time has come for industry to act together in tackling this growing problem and ensuring the health and purity of Europe’s coastal waters.
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| WFO launch in Vienna, 2012 | The Danish Plastics Federation collects marine litter |
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| Please watch the video on the WFO launch, that was recorded in Nice, May 2011. | Demonstration of the collection of floating marine debris for recovery by fisherman at harbour of Beaulieu, France. |
WFO to participate in the Wild10 Congress in Salamanca (Spain) on the 4th - 10th October 2013
The World Wilderness Congress (WWC) is an ongoing public conservation project, focused on practical & positive outcomes in policy, new protected areas, new funding mechanisms, trainings for communities and professionals, and more. It also emphasizes the importance of hope and inspiration! Each Congress results in numerous accomplishments for wilderness, wildlife and people worldwide.
Between 4th- 10th October 2013, Salamanca (Spain) will held the WILD10 Congress under the Honorary Presidency of H.M. Queen Sofia and fostered by The Wild Foundation, a prestigious American NGO which understands Nature conservation as the essential basis of human wellbeing.
In the Congress you will have the possibility to participate in symposia, workshops, trainings and concurrent annual meetings of interest groups or organizations. Most of them are focused on practical outcomes, best-practice models, state-of-the-art science and information, and cultural solutions and inspiration.
Waste Free Oceans will be part of the Congress as one of the main Foundations collaborating in the restoration of the environment.
The town will turn out everything for WILD10 delegates, their citizens will be involved, and there are already strong working partnerships with the University of Salamanca (almost 800 years old!), the University Pontificia, and the museums.
WFO Press Release: Recommendatios for Solutions to Marine Litter
WFO Recommendations for Solutions to Marine Litter
WFO welcomes the Unilever initiative to avoid micro beads in all their personal care products
WFO welcomes the launch of the EU’s 7th Environment Action Programme
Waste Free Oceans is now officially launched in Belgium. For more info, please visit the Latest Events section.
Below you can find a link to the speech given by the Commissioner Maria Damanaki, in Ostend on November 8th.
On November 8th 2011 Commissioner Maria Damanaki, together with WFO Chairwoman Anna Rosbach (MEP) shall attend the launch of WFO Belgium at the Oostende harbor, Belgium.
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/damanaki/headlines/press-releases/2011/11/20111108_en.htm
29/09/2011 WFO in Barcelona!
During the EuPR annual meeting (16-17 November 2011) WFO will make a demonstration in Puerto de Barcelona. To find out more & download the agenda, click on the link below:
EuPR annual meeting Barcelona 16-17 November
27/09/2011 WFO will be present in the European Parliament. The event is planned for the 18th of October, 2011. You can find out more here:
WFO event in the European Parliament "A time to work together"
18/08/2011 WFO links with KIMO INTERNATIONAL
05/05/2011 launch of the WFO project will take place during the EuPC annual meeting on 18-19 May 2011 in Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat, France
Waste Free Oceans Conference
The Waste Free Oceans Foundation will celebrate a conference on the 24th of May 2013 in Bruges, Belgium “Green Paper on Plastic Waste & Marine Litter” during the European Plastics Converters Association (EuPC) Annual Meeting.
WFO thinks that it is a fantastic opportunity to meet the plastics industry and discuss together how to address the future of the rivers, seas and oceans and to propose sustainable solutions.
High level speakers will be present sharing their views and opinions:
· Opportunities for the Plastics Industry arising from the EU Green Paper on Plastic Waste in the Environment / by Alexandre Dangis (Managing Director EuPC).
· WFO activities launched since 2011. What next? / by Bernard Merkx (WFO).
· The need to work on a global level with fishermen for clean-up / by Luc Mellaerts (SDVO).
· Zero plastics to landfill by 2020, achievable? / by Martin Engelmann (PlasticsEurope).
· What can the European Commission and Member States do to reduce Marine litter? / by Leo De Vrees (DG ENV) (tbc).
The speeches will be followed by a Panel Debate to exchange ideas and views.
The participation fee for the event is 100 EUR (excl. VAT 21%).
After the conference you will also have the possibility to join an informal dinner to continue exchanging ideas.
Hotel rooms are available at special rates for the participants.
We hope you will join us in this fantastic opportunity to help us to combat marine litter.
Waste Free Oceans Conference: “Marine Litter: Public and Private Solutions will make a Change towards Blue Growth”
On the 7th of March, Brussels WFO held its first conference: “Marine Litter. Public and Private Solutions will make a Change Towards Blue Growth”.
More than 120 delegates from all over the world had the opportunity to have an overview of the problem, policies and solutions proposed by different actors that are involved in the problem of marine litter.
You can find the presentations of the speakers following the links below:
- EU DG Mare - Marine Knowledge 2020. Mrs Cristina Amil-Lopez, Policy Officer DG MARE
- WFO Activities Overview 2012. Mr Bernard Merkx, WFO Project Manager
- Fishing for Litter Belgium, What did we Achieve in Six Years?. Mr Ivan Victor, Chairman SDVO
- Problem Vs Solutions. A Systematic Approach. Mr Thomas Vanagt, Managing Director eCOAST
- Regional Action Plans Needed. Mr Marc Madec, Fédération de la Plasturgie
- Global WFO Activities. Mr Yavuz Eroglu, WFO Middle East & Africa President
Waste Free Oceans Official Launch in Cyprus
On October 9th 2012, WFO and the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus shall co-organize a conference on tackling marine litter and a demonstration in the use of WFO trawl systems for the collection of floating marine litter. This event will be held at the Port of Limassol, Cyprus in cooperation with Green Dot Cyprus and we are delighted to announce the attendance and participation of EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Marine Affairs Mrs. Maria Damanaki.
Waste Free Oceans wins Best Campaign or Initiative category at 2012 PBO Green Awards
On the 14th of September 2012, Waste Free Oceans Foundation received thePractical Boat Owner (PBO) Award in the campaign of Initiative Category.
The PBO Green Awards showcase companies and organisations that have promoted marine industry sustainability or helped reduce boating’s impact on the environment.
In November 2012, the activities of Waste Free Oceans Foundation and the winners in the other three categories will be presented in the PBO Magazine.
Mr Bernard Merkx, Project Manager of Waste Free Oceans Foundation noted: “This prize is the recognition of the boat industry for our commitment to the recovery of marine debris for recycling purposes and to the sustainability of the society. We are very happy to start to work together with the boat industry in order to establish fruitful clean up actions”.
WFO Official Launch in Hungary
On the 11th of July 2012, Waste Free Oceans Foundation launched the first demonstration of floating litter collection in Hungary in the Szent Korona Port (Neszmely) as a part of the project Waste Free Danube in collaboration with Mikrolin Hungary, Tatai Ko rnyezetve delmi and Sa rva ri HUKE.
The program included the introduction of the Hungarian Waste Free Danube program and the demonstration of collection of floating debris using the Thomsea trawl system.
WFO Official Launch in Denmark
On the 15th of June during the Bornholm event, the Danish trade association Plastindustrien organized the launch of the Waste Free Oceans Denmark project in the port of Allinge.
Two local fishermen successfully used the WFO Thomsea trawl to collect floating marine debris from Allinge Havn.
A tent was placed in the port where a lot of visitors could see the Waste Free Oceans activities.
Additional information was given and videos were shown to raise more awareness on the topic.
WFO Official Launch in Turkey
WFO Turkey/Happy Fish project started on the 2nd and 3th of June together with the Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Educational Foundation (PAGEV) in Buyukada, Istanbul.
The event consisted of the presentation of the project WFO Turkey/Happy Fish together with a demonstration of collection of floating marine debris bringing it back to the land for recycling purposes.
Waste Free Danube - Official launch on the Danube River in Vienna
During the EuPC Innovation Days on the 1st of June, WFO organized a session in the Intercontinental Hotel in Vienna where participants from the industry were briefed by the MEP and chairwoman of the Foundation, Mrs. Anna Rosbach about the importance of the initiative and the successful achievements reached at this time.
After the conference, the participants moved to the Port of Vienna where, with the collaboration of the University of Vienna, the participants had possibility to see how the Thomsea trawl works in the rivers and the technique of the floating debris collection.
Waste Free Oceans participated in the 12 edition of the European Green Week
On 22-25 May, 2012, Waste Free Oceans Foundation had a stand during the European Green Week 2012 in the Charlemagne Building of the European Commission in Brussels.
During the week a large number of participants at the WFO stand learnt about the WFO activities highlighting the successful collaboration between the plastics industry, the fisheries sector, partners and sponsors. At the stand they could find information on the WFO Foundation, the launches, the use of the trawl and how to collaborate with WFO to recover marine debris.
The participants showed special interest in the activities carried out since 2011 and 2012 expressing their support to our initiative, making the stand of WFO one of the most visited during the week.
Waste Free Oceans organized in the European Maritime Days 2012 (Sweden) a panel discussion on Marine Litter
On the 22nd of May Waste Free Oceans organized together with Seas at Risk and the University of Athens a panel discussion during the European Maritime Days 2012 (Sweden) named “Reducing marine litter for the sake of the environment...and blue growth?” about the economic implications of marine litter, highlighting how marine litter affects key sectors that rely on the marine environment .
The event acted as a dialogue platform offering the opportunity to a wide range of stakeholders, from policy makers to NGOs, industry representatives and local authorities, to exchange views and experiences on all related challenges.
Waste Free Oceans Marine Debris Collection Day Demonstration of the Collection of Macro-plastic Waste in Saint Mandrier (France)
On the 15h of May 2012 Waste Free Oceans and Federation de la Plasturgie held the Marine Debris Collection Day in Saint Mandrier, France in collaboration with Comite National des Peches Maritimes (CNPMEM), Thomsea and Paprec Recyclage.
Waste Free Oceans - Official Launch in Portugal
On the 28th of March 2012, Waste Free Oceans Foundation launched the first demonstration of floating litter collection in Portugal (Porto) in collaboration with Lipor (Intermunicipal Waste Management of Greater Porto) and APIP (The Portuguese Plastic Industry Association).
The participants had the chance to see the process of collection with the THOMSEA Trawl 2T in the Duero river. The new 8T trawl was displayed also in order to show the structure and possibilities of the new design.
Speakers present during the launch of WFO Portugal included: Mr. Manuel Pinto de Abreu (Secretary of the State), Mr. Tiago Pitta e Cunha (Counsellor to the President of the Republic), Mr Alexandre Dangis (Waste Free Oceans Director), Mr. João Pedro Matos Fernandes (Chairman of the Administration Board of the Leixões Port), Mr. Fernando Leite (Managing Director of Lipor) and Mr. Marcel de Botton (APIP President).
Waste Free Oceans the Americas organize the first Official Workshop:“Marine Debris, Yes we care about it!”
On the 22nd of February 2012 Waste Free Oceans “The Americas” launched the first workshop “Marine Debris, Yes we care about it!
The participants discussed about the different issues that concern the marine debris: The Global Marine Litter Declaration, ACP FISH II Programme, The Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution, The view of the fishermen on marine debris and Awareness raising and remediation activities.
17/11/2011 Waste Free Oceans launches in Spain!
08/11/2011 We launched Waste Free Oceans in Belgium(Oostende)
Waste Free Oceans is now officially launched in Belgium
19/10/2011 Waste Free Oceans in the European Parliament
Waste Free Oceans was present in the European Parliament on the 18/10.Click here to find out more.
15/09/2011 Partners of the WFO did have a chance to meet and discuss WFO strategy and action plan during the 1st WFO International Partner Meeting, that took place in Brussels, on the 12th of September 2011.
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