During the Rotary Festival on May 15, there was a lot of attention for improving the Plastic life cycle: reduce, reuse & recycle. Both at the inspiration market, where many Rotary clubs showed their own projects, and during the presentations, there was a lot of interest from Rotary clubs.
EndPlasticSoup on the inspiration market
EndPlasticSoup was present with a stand at the inspiration market and gave information about the problem of plastic pollution and how the EndPlasticSoup Foundation tackles this problem with Rotary clubs all over the world. Plastic-free soaps were distributed to the visitors.
Presentation EndPlasticSoup
In the afternoon there was a presentation about EndPlasticSoup by Wendela Sandberg. She talked about the problem of plastic and nanoplastics for our health and the environment. She also showed some examples of what Rotary clubs have achieved together with EndPlasticSoup and which projects are being done. Examples were the Limes Bubble Barrier in Katwijk and the CollextiX Boat in the Drina in Bosnia-Herzegovina (and new projects in the tributaries of the Danube). EndPlasticSoup contributes to the Bubble Barrier in Katwijk from the proceeds of the 2 puzzles that Rotary Club Winschoten had made.
Plastic recycling and building with plastic
Rotary Club Amsterdam-Nieuwendam had a miniature ‘plastic factory’ that can be used to make plastic bricks for plastic houses or other materials from granules of waste. At the stand, plastic ‘coins’ were made in no time at all with a machine that heats the plastic granules to 200 degrees. This machine was a miniature example of the plastic factory of Save Plastics, which built a house from waste plastic at the Floriade in Almere. EndPlasticSoup is working with Save Plastics to bring this recycling solution to the attention of Rotary worldwide.
Stop Plastic Waste Event at the Floriade in Almere (Netherlands) on June 4th
Rotary Club Almere was at the inspiration market to promote the ‘Stop Plastic Waste Event’ on June 4 at the Floriade in Almere (30 kilometers east of Amsterdam). Tickets are still available for this event with access to the Floriade. More information about this event can be found here.
In the morning there was a presentation by Xander de Bruine of the Floriade, in which he talked about the themes at the Floriade regarding sustainability and ‘Growing Green Cities’. In his presentation, he showed that the Floriade Expo 2022 is more than a green day out. There is an extensive knowledge program to make cities greener, healthier and more fun. The Floriade brings national and international governments, companies, scientists and visitors together for knowledge sharing and cooperation on the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) of the UN.
EndPlasticSoup Puzzle
The Rotary club Winschoten was also present at the inspiration market. They sold, among other things, the EndPlasticSoup jigsaw puzzle ‘Summercamp’, the second puzzle they had made. The first puzzle is now sold out, but the second puzzle can still be ordered. Read here how you can order these.
EndPlasticSoup also at the Rotary Club Merchandise booth
Rotary Club Merchandise is the European supplier of items for Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs. Naturally, this organization was also represented with a stand at the Rotary Festival. Articles with the EndPlasticSoup logo are also included in the extensive program. If your club organizes a cleanup and/or participates in the worldwide EndPlasticSoup action day on June 4th, we advise everyone to order vests or waste bags from Rotary Merchandise. The waste bags are made of recycled plastic, great for a lot of waste and also with the EndPlasticSoup logo!
The bags can be ordered via: https://www.club-merchandise.eu/en/End-Plastic-Soup/
Last but not least
Big compliments to the Rotary Festival organization, because they have certainly reduced the festival’s plastic footprint thanks to the reusable cups. After all, we know that 50% of the 400 million tons (57 kg per Earthling) we produce each year is single-used plastic. Rotary can organize all its events plastic-free. Imagine!
