We've all heard of the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. But what era are we actually living in today? Perhaps most likely the "plastic age", also known as the Anthropocene ("determined by man"). The age of the disposable society began with the introduction of polymers and plastics into everyday life. And with it came the great promise that cheap plastic products would eliminate the need for laborious cleaning and repairs as well as numerous costs, such as those for transport. And so it was, but unfortunately for far too long people forgot to consider what happens at the end of a product (disposal) or to produce, process, use, and recycle products in a circular manner and beyond internal processes.

As an interdisciplinary team of experts on a mission for water without microplastics, it is our pleasure and concern to share our knowledge and make it accessible to the next generation in the simplest and most appealing way possible. The basis for FREIRÄUME is provided by the scientifically sound digital-real educational space WASoMI. Our chemists, environmental scientists and sustainability experts have contributed their knowledge to it. Thanks to the support of the Postcode Lottery participants, we were able to implement the FREIRÄUME project last year and take the wealth of knowledge about water without microplastics to the next level.