Educational project „WASoMI Lab“ launched
12. December 2024
Zurich Insurance - a partner you can rely on
In line with the goal of ‘shaping a better future together’, Zurich Group Germany strives to be one of the most responsible and impactful companies in the world. The Planet Hero Award is the flagship of Zurich Germany. Wasser 3.0 was among the award winners (2021) and since then, they have been making a measurable impact for more water without microplastics ever since.
Planet Hero Award and the Planet Hero Award Family
As part of the partnership with Boris Herrmann and his team Malizia, Zurich Germany launched the Planet Hero Award in 2021. The award supports initiatives that promote the environment and climate so that they can increase their positive impact. Including us. And that since the very beginning.
‘It was a great honour for us to receive this award,’ recalls Katrin Schuhen, ’but at the same time we had no idea what it could really lead to.’ The Planet Hero Family was not even a topic at the time, and yet even at the start of the collaboration, we had the feeling that the organisers of the award were not just interested in providing financial support, but that it was much more important to develop together.
In many conversations, live meetings and events, we could sense an incredible dynamism and motivation right from the start, which continues to this day. ‘New ideas emerged at every meeting. The joint dialogue led to new partnerships and the networks grew in equal measure - in both directions.
Many different, exciting people meet at every award ceremony, which in turn provides fertile ground for new cooperation projects. For example, our joint project with Pure Water for Generations e.V., which we realised in 2023, or new project ideas with Artport -making waves.
Planet Hero 2021 with award © Wasser 3.0
Planet Hero Award 2024 with the ‘Rebel of Water’ © Wasser 3.0
Creative, collective, goal-orientated action is the hallmark of this community.
Common language - common action: Hand in hand for more climate and environmental protection
Whether as a water station at the 2022 and 2024 climate and sporting events or as a dialogue partner in the Zurich:podcast: Immer auf dem Lauschenden, in which Katrin Schuhen, book author of ‘Rebellin des Wassers’, with Bernd O. Engelien, or during the return visit during the Open House 2022 at the wastewater treatment plant in Landau - the Zurich representatives, above all project sponsor and board member Björn Bohnhoff and Wasser 3.0, have already implemented many activities together. Without the help of Zurich Germany, the Global Map of Microplastics would not have been realised and transferred to a real test application so quickly.
First Open House - Björn Bohnhoff and Barbara Kaltz from Zurich also stopped by © Wasser 3.0 © Sebastian Heck | Wasser 3.0
School classes from the Cologne region help to analyse regional waters for microplastics
Shortly after the launch of the Wasser 3.0 app and the Global Map of Microplastics in May 2024, the big test run started with 300 pupils and their teachers. In the run-up to this year's climate and sporting event, they received our analysis kit and sent the water samples to our laboratory for microplastic analysis. The values were presented at the event in September and scrutinised more closely with the pupils. The feedback was great, the results were extremely exciting and conclusive, and it was a great test run for us.
2025 continues: Sampling and data transparency as an accelerator for more action for clean water
Not only students and teachers have been able to actively participate so far. Zurich Germany employees have also received analysis kits and can now actively go out with their families and friends to investigate microplastic pollution in the water at their own doorstep.
Collecting samples together on the Rhine © Wasser 3.0
For more water without microplastics on the road at the climate and sports event © Wasser 3.0
‘This commitment is having an impact, as there is enormous interest in taking part in microplastic mapping,’ comments Katrin Schuhen. ‘Unfortunately, analysing microplastics is very time-consuming and therefore expensive. We are trying to further reduce the cost contribution for all participants.’ The more partners take part, the faster we can find the sources of microplastic hotspots in the waters. And the faster we can take active action at these hotspots to reduce inputs.
There is no better moment. TOGETHER. NOW for water without microplastics
Actively positioning yourself in favour of environmental and climate protection is also possible in 2025 with Wasser 3.0. With a donation or sponsorship, everyone can support the educational work on water without microplastics. The future of our planet is in our hands. With our meaningful educational work for more water without microplastics, we want to continue to inspire school classes to take collective, visible action in the long term. And more and more internationally.
Growing together
Become a holistic long-term sponsor of the Global Map of Microplastics or support the sampling and microplastics analysis as well as our educational work as a stage sponsor of the 2025-2027 river sampling programme.
The plan includes comprehensive sampling of the Danube, Neckar, Rhine, Alb, Queich, Saale, Weser, Elbe and many more .... In total, we want to sample at least ten rivers and over 5,000 river kilometres along their entire length by 2027 - ideally one sample every 10 km.
Why are we doing this? Because water concerns us all!
Microplastics are an incredibly complex issue. The entry paths are manifold. Much of the data is unusable because it is not standardised. We need more data points, more data transparency, more visibility, and more effective action for clean water.
To achieve this, however, it is important that many people get answers to the questions: ‘Why? - Who? - Where?’. With our actions, we provide the answers, independent of lobbies and for society; comprehensible and broadly effective. One thing is very important to us: always scientifically sound. And the great thing is, everyone can be part of the solution for water without microplastics. You, them, us!
