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Munich/Kiel, June 23, 2024 – Around 35 km of coastline along the Baltic Sea were cleaned as part of the 39th International Coastal Cleanup Day. Equipped with garbage bags, buckets, tongs and gloves, the volunteers and helpers collected more than 500 kilograms of garbage on Friday and Saturday; the final evaluations are currently underway. Not only thousands of cigarette butts, plastic packaging, plastic film and bags, bottles and corks were once again the shocking yield of the hard-working collectors, but also shoes, textiles, mats, a wide variety of other waste and even hazardous waste such as batteries and rechargeable batteries.

The Washington-based NGO Ocean Conservancy coordinates this International Coastal Cleanup, which always takes place on the 3rd weekend in September, and summarizes the results of the global waste collection in an overall report.

“We hope that participation will be as high again next year when we call for the 40th International Coastal Cleanup on 19/20 September 2024,” emphasizes Dr. Harald Frank, project manager at One Earth – One Ocean. He continues: “Nevertheless, we can only make a limited contribution with these important and effective actions. Reducing marine litter requires, in particular, decisive political action and continuous environmental education campaigns.”

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants and our sponsor Stadtwerke Kiel AG, who made the campaigns financially possible.

About one earth – one ocean e. V. (oeoo)

The non-profit environmental organization one earth – one ocean e.V.(oeoo), based in Munich and with offices in Kiel, Battambang/Cambodia, Manila/Philippines and Rio/Brazil, has been pursuing the goal of ridding the world’s waters of plastic waste since 2011. The multi-stage “Maritime Waste Disposal” concept for eliminating coastal marine pollution caused by plastic waste envisages – in addition to processing land-based plastic waste – collecting the plastic from waters around the world using a fleet of special waste collection ships and then recycling it on recycling ships such as the SeeElefant. Projects to remove plastic waste from bodies of water are currently underway in Cambodia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Uganda and Egypt. Specially designed waste collection ships called SeeHamster and SeeKuh are used for this purpose. From 2026, the first “SeeElefant”, a converted multi-purpose freighter that will have systems for sorting, shredding, processing and pressing marine waste on board, will be the first pilot system for a waste recycling ship. As soon as industrial-scale plastics-to-fuel plants are available, plastic will also be converted back into sulphur-free oil directly on board. The association is also involved nationally and internationally in research into microplastics as well as educational and awareness-raising work and documentation on the subject of marine litter. Back in 2013, oeoo won the prestigious GreenTec Award, Europe’s largest environmental and business prize, for its maritime waste collection concept. In 2019, the association received the Federal Ecodesign Award from the Federal Ministry for the Environment for its SeeElefant waste recycling ship concept. Further information about oeoo and its current projects can be found at www.oeoo.world.

Press contact
Dr. Harald Frank
Finance & Projects
Krausstr. 17, 24118 Kiel

+49 (0)176-30326723
harald.frank@drfrank-finance.com
www.drfrank-finance.com

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Topics and activities

Education and sustainability

This project is aimed at pupils in grades 5 to 13 and supports the geography curriculum at upper and lower secondary level. The proven ESD approach “Recognize, evaluate and act” teaches environmental education in a practical and sustainable way.

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Wingfoiling conquers the Kieler Woche

The young and talented wingfoilers stepped into the limelight for the first time during Kieler Woche. With breathtaking speeds of over 35 knots, the U19 athletes demonstrated their skills on their X-15 boards and thrilled the audience. A comprehensive demo and coaching event led by world champion Fiona Wylde also gave beginners the opportunity to try out and develop their skills in this up-and-coming discipline. The initiators hope that wingfoiling might even become an Olympic sport in the future.

With the “SeeKuh I” against seaweed

Another highlight was the participation of the association One Earth – One Ocean e. V., which took on an important task with its waste collection ship “SeeKuh I”: the collection of seaweed that landed in Strander Bucht due to storms and waves. This innovative campaign once again demonstrated the association’s commitment to clean and healthy oceans.

Microbiologist Rüdiger Stöhr, a key member of the OEOO team, reported enthusiastically on the successful seagrass collection campaign. “We collected over ten kilograms of seaweed in one day. The seaweed grows in a kind of road that is perfect for collecting,” says Stöhr. The collected seaweed is to be used as insulation or filling material, which enables sustainable use and at the same time keeps the regatta course clear for the athletes.

Commitment and education at the information stand

Our information stand at Kieler Woche was an impressive place to meet and obtain information. Visitors had the opportunity to meet key team members, including Lennart and Linus, who spent a year working for us in Cambodia, as well as Franziska and microbiologist Rüdiger Stöhr. During the discussion, interested parties learned more about OEOO’s important environmental projects and how they themselves can get involved in protecting our oceans.

Many thanks to all visitors

A big thank you goes to everyone who visited our stand and supported our commitment to clean oceans. Together we can make a significant contribution to protecting our oceans and continue to shape Kiel Week as an event of sustainability and innovation.

Let’s set sail together for a clean and sustainable future!

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Munich/Hamburg, June 19, 2024 – In the context of a The Körber Foundation honored Günther Bonin with the 2024 Encore Award for his life’s work at a festive gala in Hamburg-Bergedorf on 13 June. The prize is endowed with 60,000 euros and is awarded to personalities who have built up a company with added social value with 60plus. The award is justified by the foundation as follows: “Günther Bonin (68) from Munich founded the environmental organization One Earth – One Ocean e.V. (oeoo) in 2011 with the aim of ridding the world’s waters of plastic waste, oil and pollutants. Using special innovative waste collection ships, the association collects plastic waste from oceans, rivers and lakes at hotspots, which is then sorted and recycled. In addition, oeoo is involved nationally and internationally in the areas of research, environmental education and documentation and has been an official partner of the UN CleanSeas environmental campaign since 2018.”

Bonin comments: “I would like to thank the Körber Foundation very much for this honor and for the fact that it has been bestowed on me at an age when I will hopefully still have enough time left to continue the fight against plastic waste and microplastics in oceans and waters for as long as possible – because this fight is more necessary than ever.”

In addition to ongoing global waste collection and recycling campaigns, oeoo has been regularly examining water samples in the Atlantic and North Sea for their microplastic content for ten years as part of a microplastic monitoring program led by microbiologist Dr. Rüdiger Stöhr. Supported by the Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft (OPDR), over 1,000 water samples of 20 liters each were taken from container ships on 134 trips between Hamburg and the Canary Islands and tested for microplastics in the association’s own laboratory in Kiel. In the first few years, 73% of the samples contained microplastics; the proportion is now 94%. The largest proportion of plastic parts comes from the packaging and coating industry. An ever-increasing proportion is made up of fibers, from which modern clothing is made. The results of the measurements are shown in the Microplastic Pollution Map (MPPM) at https://oneearth-oneocean.com/unsere-projekte/microplastic-pollution-map/ in an interactive nautical chart. Günther Bonin summarizes the results: “Ten years of our research show beyond doubt that the situation has continued to deteriorate. There is no longer a body of water without plastic.”

About one earth – one ocean e. V. (oeoo)

The non-profit environmental organization one earth – one ocean e.V.(oeoo), based in Munich and with offices in Kiel, Battambang/Cambodia, Manila/Philippines and Rio/Brazil, has been pursuing the goal of ridding the world’s waters of plastic waste since 2011. The multi-stage “Maritime Waste Disposal” concept for eliminating coastal marine pollution caused by plastic waste envisages – in addition to processing land-based plastic waste – collecting the plastic from waters around the world using a fleet of special waste collection ships and then recycling it on recycling ships such as the SeeElefant. Projects to remove plastic waste from bodies of water are currently underway in Cambodia, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Uganda and Egypt. Specially designed waste collection ships called SeeHamster and SeeKuh are used for this purpose. From 2026, the first “SeeElefant”, a converted multi-purpose freighter that will have systems for sorting, shredding, processing and pressing marine waste on board, will be the first pilot system for a waste recycling ship. As soon as industrial-scale plastics-to-fuel plants are available, plastic will also be converted back into sulphur-free oil directly on board. The association is also involved nationally and internationally in research into microplastics as well as educational and awareness-raising work and documentation on the subject of marine litter. Back in 2013, oeoo won the prestigious GreenTec Award, Europe’s largest environmental and business prize, for its maritime waste collection concept. In 2019, the association received the Federal Ecodesign Award from the Federal Ministry for the Environment for its SeeElefant waste recycling ship concept. Further information about oeoo and its current projects can be found at www.oeoo.world .

About the encore price

Improving the world is possible at any age. Every year, the Körber Foundation awards the Encore Prize to three personalities over 60 who have used entrepreneurial means to find solutions to the social challenges of our time and have built up a social enterprise. The encore prize is endowed with 60,000 euros each. The focus is on people whose initiatives show that experience and innovation, retirement and new beginnings, age and social impact complement each other productively. Further information on the prize and former award winners can be found at https://koerber-stiftung.de/projekte/zugabe-preis/

Press contact
CP Communication
Christian Prechtl
Alte Eppelheimer Straße 23
69115 Heidelberg

+49 (0)6221 65018 24
info@cpkomm.de
https://cpkomm.de

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The situation on the ground was dire, with the community lacking the resources to transport waste to the mainland, resulting in the nearby mangroves being used as a dumping site. The sheer scale of waste was staggering, with discarded furniture, appliances, and trash of all kinds strewn about the area. However, despite the challenges they face, the community’s determination to make a positive impact was palpable.

Our mission was not only to collect trash but to empower the community by educating them on the importance of separating recyclables from non-recyclables. We engaged local fishermen in the cleanup effort, highlighting the difference that can be made when individuals take action in their own backyard. By working together, we filled an astonishing 73 bags of trash, totaling around 2,900 pounds (1,300 – 1,400 kg) of waste removed from the environment.

This cleanup marks just the beginning of our journey with the St. Cristobal community. We plan to continue working closely with local leaders to establish regular pickup schedules for recyclable trash, paving the way for sustainable waste management solutions. Our objective is to create a lasting impact, and we are committed to supporting the community in their efforts to adopt environmentally conscious practices.

Stay tuned for updates on our progress in St. Cristobal and beyond as we work towards a vision of a trash-free ocean, where communities thrive in harmony with the environment.

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As a member of the GGGI, OEOO is poised to actively contribute its valuable experience and proactive approach to combating ghost gear—abandoned or lost fishing equipment that continues to trap and kill marine life, pollute our oceans and eventually decompose into microplastics. Estimates suggest that ghost nets comprise approximately 10 percent of the global marine plastic waste.

With a track record of environmental stewardship, OEOO has been at the forefront of the fight against marine pollution, targeting ghost nets through its “Salvaging Ghost Nets in the Baltic Sea” project. Since spring 2019, in collaboration with the Scientific Diving Association e.V. Kiel (SDA), OEOO has been instrumental in locating, marking, and retrieving these harmful derelict fishing gears. Distressingly, an estimated 10,000 nets and fishing gear are lost annually in the Baltic Sea alone. Our joint efforts have resulted in several successful salvage missions, utilizing the OEOO’s multi-purpose vessel, the SeeKuh, as the operational base for these dives.

OEOO’s engagement goes beyond recovery efforts. To streamline the reporting and identification process, SDA has developed a web-based reporting portal, inviting fishermen and aqua-sports enthusiasts to mark wreck and ghost net locations, a critical step in remediation.

Now as part of the GGGI, One Earth – One Ocean e.V. is joining a diverse global alliance, including fishing and private industries, academia, and governments to leverage holistic solutions to the ghost gear problem. Launched in September 2015, the GGGI brings together stakeholders to drive positive change, mitigate the impacts of ghost gear, and harness global efforts to ensure healthier marine ecosystems.

We invite you to learn more about the “Salvaging Ghost Nets in the Baltic Sea” project and the significant steps being taken towards ocean conservation by visiting our detailed project page: Salvaging ghost nets in the Baltic Sea.

Together, we can make strides towards cleaner oceans and protect the myriad of life that calls them home. Stay tuned for updates on our progress and initiatives as we work hand-in-hand with the Global Ghost Gear Initiative.

For more information about OEOO’s environmental efforts and how you can get involved, visit our website and follow us on our social media platforms.

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