The pollution of the oceans from plastic waste is one of the most pressing environmental problems of our time. To take a stand against this, an interdisciplinary team of students and teachers at Mainz University of Applied Sciences is developing an interactive carnival float with the slogan “Meerwert – Helau”. Mainz University of Applied Sciences will be participating in the Rose Monday parade for the second time in 2025, having already created an impressive atmosphere this year with its innovative “Helau-O-Mat”.
Every single returnable bottle counts: Students from all three schools at the university – Business, Design and Engineering – are involved in the “Meerwert - Helau” project. The carnival float is designed as a mobile deposit bottle collection point in the form of a giant octopus – the heart of the float. One special feature is that every deposit bottle handed in is counted. The number of bottles collected is displayed on LED screens. The proceeds from the collected returnable bottles are then donated to an organization that is involved in “litter fishing” in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
The construction of the float is also designed with sustainability in mind: It will be made of around 80 percent materials that have previously been disposed of. For ecological reasons, the project team has decided not to throw confetti or candy. The float will be powered by thirteen people on a towing bicycle.
"It is inspiring to see how students and teachers from all schools at the university are working together to develop creative solutions to raise awareness for this important issue. With the slogan “Meerwert – Helau”, they are making a strong statement about environmental protection and showing that carnival can mean not only tradition, but also innovation and responsibility,” says Professor Dr. Susanne Weissman, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
Plastic donation campaign prior to the parade: Even before the parade, the students are inviting people to take part in a plastic donation campaign to collect blue, red, orange, and yellow fruit mesh bags to use as the basis for making the carnival costumes.
"The costumes for the float are very special: They are made entirely from recycled materials. The design and execution are an impressive demonstration of how something unique can be created from waste,” says Susanne Maier-Staufen, a lecturer in interior architecture at Mainz University of Applied Sciences and one of the supervisors of the project.
"This project proves how students can use creativity and collaboration to tackle complex issues such as sustainability and environmental protection in an innovative way. With our interactive carnival float, we are helping raise awareness and showing that responsibility and fun can also go hand in hand during carnival,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Bernhard Ostheimer from the School of Business, who is helping supervise the project.
Plastic donation campaign:
Wednesday| December 18, 2024 | 11 am to 3 pm
Mainz University of Applied Sciences | Holzstraße location | Holzstraße 36 , 55116 Mainz | Inner courtyard
