More Speed Less Plastic, a new sustainability initiative with Denmark SailGP Team | News

After the success achieved with the More Miles Less Plastic initiative at the transatlantic Route du Rhum regatta with Ambrogio Beccaria, ocean navigator and ambassador of One Ocean Foundation, thanks to which over 4 tons of plastic were collected from coasts and beaches, it is now the time to decline the project based on speed performance. As part of the well-established partnership with the Denmark SailGP Team by Rockwool, the More Speed Less Plastic initiative will be presented on January 13 in Singapore by One Ocean Foundation Secretary General Jan Pachner at the Champions for Change conference.

For every single kilometer per hour of speed reached by Denmark SailGP Team's F50 foiling catamaran, One Ocean Foundation commits to collect 10 kg of plastic from the coasts of developing countries, certifying the collection process. Considering that these catamarans can reach speeds close to 100 km/h powered by only the force of wind, the goal of removing a ton of plastic from coastal areas at each SailGP event is within reach, preventing it from ending up in the ocean. More Speed Less Plastic will debut in Singapore and will continue in the following stages of the circuit, in Sydney, Australia, Christchurch, New Zealand before the season finale on the west coast of the USA, in San Francisco.

The initiative will also be shared to other teams of the SailGP circuit. In addition to rewarding Denmark SailGP Team's speed in each remaining Sail Grand Prix of the third season, Rockwool and One Ocean Foundation have pledged to do the same for the team that sets the fastest speed in each event, the same type of plastic collection according to the maximum speed reached.

Nicolai Sehested, skipper and helmsman of the Denmark SailGP Team, added: “Through the More Speed Less Plastic initiative, we want to underline that the time for talking is over, we need to accelerate our solutions and actions to reduce our impact on the ocean".

Mirella Vitale, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Branding and Public Affairs at Rockwool, said:

Rockwool is delighted to support, with the Denmark SailGP Team and One Ocean Foundation, the More Speed Less Plastic initiative, which aims to demonstrate that there are trade-offs between performance, innovation and sustainability. We have developed our partnership with the Denmark SailGP Team with the aim of raising the bar and setting new standards, both on and off the water. This initiative is a world first that highlights the collective challenges we are all facing, motivating our athletes to do what they do best, go fast.

Riccardo Bonadeo, President of One Ocean Foundation, concludes: “Pollution of the ocean is a global issue that requires leadership, collaboration and speed of action. These initiatives not only helps to protect the ocean, but offers a positive social impact by giving value to plastic waste and thus supporting collectors in local communities often found in less privileged regions of our planet. Thanks to Denmark SailGP Team and Rockwool this initiative will reward SailGP teams for their achievements on the water, while helping to showcase innovative solutions."