On Rose Monday, the interactive carnival float of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, “Meerwert-Helau,” with the number 108, paraded through the streets of the city, attracting significant attention. The interdisciplinary team used this opportunity to raise awareness about marine pollution caused by plastic waste. This was the second time Mainz University of Applied Sciences participated in the Rose Monday parade, following their debut in 2024 with the innovative “Helau-O-Mat“-Float.
1162 deposit bottles collected: Students from all three schools at the university – Business, Design and Engineering – were 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 was counted. The number of bottles collected was displayed on LED screens. The proceeds from the collected returnable bottles will be donated to an organization that is involved in “litter fishing” in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
The construction of the float was also designed with sustainability in mind: It was 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 was 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 invited 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
