Baltic Sea Plastic-Free

First of all, the target groups that we wanted to reach and motivate to adopt environmentally conscious behaviour. These were not only residents of Stockholm, but also numerous international tourists and the sailing community in Stockholm.

The spectacular thing about this clean-up campaign was that three organisations from different countries came together: Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, as coordinator, Keep Sweden Tidy, as the local organiser and the sailing boat ZERO as an ambassador for a plastic-free Baltic Sea. Two sailors from the marine conservation initiative SailingForSeas, Rolf and Lars, sailed to Stockholm and attempted an almost completely emission-free journey, successfully completing this challenge.

The 2-hour clean-up was carried out in the tourist centre of Stockholm, directly on the Strandvägen promenade. Thousands of tourists were made aware of the littering problem in the Baltic Sea and in the city harbours. Floating plastic bags and lost or discarded boat equipment such as ropes were fished out of the water. On land, cigarette butts and vape pods were the most commonly found objects. Even an empty nitrous oxide bottle was found! For our partners from Keep Sweden Tidy, such results are unfortunately part of ‘business as usual’. Our partner has been working tirelessly for decades to keep Sweden’s coastline free of plastic waste.

After completing the clean-up, the mission was not yet over for SailingForSeas. Rolf and Lars returned to the ‘Zero’, which was moored in Navis harbour. They attached both banners to the railing: ‘Baltic Sea – Plastic Free’ and ‘We are sailing for seas’ and set the beautiful blue foresail painted with the harbour porpoise motif with the inscription: ‘More Oceans Less Plastic’. With this equipment, the two marine conservationists sailed through the inner harbours of Stockholm, past the WASA and VIKING museums and sailed further along the island of Skeppsholmen in the early evening. The message was clear to many people who saw the sailing boat from the shore and from passing ships: We want a healthy and clean Baltic Sea and we are doing something about it!

ZERO sailed on towards several cruise ships moored in Stockholm, showed its banners, sailed in front of the eyes and shook the beliefs of hundreds of passengers.

Raising environmental awareness and challenging people’s view – mission accomplished!

Achieving the big goal with small steps! We remain consistent, motivated and collaborative in our actions! Together for clean oceans!

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