Refuse collection project in Bangkok: working together for a clean future

The Ferry Porsche Foundation, the Audi Environmental Foundation and green start-up everwave are working together again. Following a joint refuse collection campaign in Europe, the environmental partnership is now focusing on Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. Almost 385 tonnes of plastic end up in the sea there every year.

“Giving children and young people a liveable future is a project close to our hearts,” says Sebastian Rudolph, CEO of the Ferry Porsche Foundation. “This is why we and our strong partners are committed to clean water in the long term.”

Artificial intelligence and new structures

Over the course of several weeks, a smart refuse collecting boat will remove waste from rivers and canals in Bangkok. Equipped with a conveyor belt and intelligent sensors, it also gathers information about the quantity, type and composition of the waste. The trio is also aiming to push forward the necessary creation of structures in the region for the professional disposal of refuse. The TerraCycle Thai Foundation is supporting the partners with professional and local expertise.

Each year, more than 11 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the world’s seas. A large proportion of it enters via rivers. “To shut down this cycle, we need long-term cleanup projects that participate in setting up infrastructures for waste disposal,” says Clemens Feigl, CEO of everwave. “The start-up financing for Thailand is a milestone for the ecological added value.” Last year, the Ferry Porsche Foundation, the Audi Environmental Foundation, the BABOR BEAUTY GROUP and everwave removed more than 69 tonnes of plastic from the River Olt in Romania.

About the Audi Environmental Foundation

The Audi Environmental Foundation GmbH is an active supporter of new technology and scientific methods for a liveable future. The Foundation’s goal is to make a contribution to environmental protection and create and promote ways of acting sustainably. The Foundation focuses in particular on the promotion and development of environmentally friendly technology, environmental education measures, and the protection of the natural life resources of people, animals and plants. It was founded in 2009 by AUDI AG as a 100 per cent subsidiary and is a part of its commitment to social and environmental issues.

About everwave

everwave is cleaning up the environment. With refuse-collecting boats it prevents waste from ending up in the oceans. During its cleanup missions, artificial intelligence helps detect and analyse the refuse. The collected material is then disposed of through environmentally friendly procedures while public awareness of environmental topics is also increased. The start-up is using its technology to clean up natural water bodies in countries such as Serbia, Romania and Cambodia. To date, everwave has collected more than 700 tonnes of refuse from rivers.

About the Ferry Porsche Foundation

Founded in 2018, the Ferry Porsche Foundation promotes and initiates charitable projects in the areas of social welfare, the environment, education and science, culture and sport. Through its societal commitments, the Foundation aims above all to support young people at the company locations of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. It is named after Ferry Porsche, who founded the Porsche sports car brand in 1948.

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