Wad gaat Om (Wad Goes Around)

Together we are strong. That is what the initiators NHL Stenden and House of Design must have thought when they set to work designing the project Wad gaat Om (Wad Goes Around). Within this project, some fifteen partners who all have a connection with the Wadden area join forces to reduce, and where possible eliminate, the problem of plastic waste floating around in the Wadden area. Besides cleaning up and recycling, Wad gaat Om also goes back to the source of the problem.

What is the reason for this project?

Pollution by plastic waste in nature threatens the flora and fauna in the Wadden area. The Wadden area is unique in its kind and you can find countless plants and animals. Pollution by plastic waste is a major threat to life on the Wadden Sea. With Wad gaat Om we are working on an integral system approach to combat plastic pollution in the Wadden area. We focus on an approach from the source. So clean up and keep clean. You can think of actions that focus on cleaning up waste, capture via rivers, prevention and reduction via purchasing and the development of alternatives for packaging materials.

What problem does Wad gaat Om solve?

We are not under the illusion that we can completely solve the problem of pollution in the Wadden Sea region. However, we do want to take a big step in the right direction to make an important and essential contribution to a cleaner nature area.

Besides cleaning up and recycling, Wad gaat Om also goes back to the source of the problem. Pollution by plastic waste in nature threatens the flora and fauna in the Wadden area. Plastic is a beautiful, sustainable product that has many benefits. But when plastic ends up in nature, it is indeed a harmful product. Think of micro- and nanoplastics that harm a human and animal. The Wad gaat Om program wants to change this. The development of preventive measures, the structural cleaning up of plastic waste, the collection of plastic products and packaging and the provision and facilitation of sustainable initiatives should lead to a Wadden standard that will be followed worldwide.

We do it together

What is unique about this project, besides these multidisciplinary collaborations, is that it connects similar initiatives in the Wadden area. This allows people to join forces to make the sustainable initiatives as impactful as possible. Wad gaat Om is an initiative of NHL Stenden and House of Design. The project cannot exist, without our cooperating partners. Big thanks go to the following parties:

• Stichting Waddengroep
• Provincie Fryslân
• Waddenvereniging
• Friese Milieufederatie
• Circulair Friesland
• Ecoras 
• Visit Wadden
• Ubuntoo 
• Noria Sustainable Innovators
• University of Groningen 
• Hanze
• Rijkswaterstaat
• Samenwerkingsverband De Waddeneilanden

In addition, What Goes Around also provides a unique collaboration within the walls of NHL Stenden itself. Within the project, the Circular Plastic Lectorate works intensively with the Thorbecke Academy, Open Innovation Lectorate, Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism Lectorate. Representatives of the HBO Law program are also connected.

Wad gaat Om as an example for the rest of the world

Within Wad gaat Om we strive to offer a structural and replicable solution, which makes a real impact on the region's prosperity. “With this project we want to make our Wadden area an international example, showing how it can be done,” said Eileen Blackmore, House of Design. The strength of Wad gaat Om lies in the intensive cooperation between many different parties. Education, entrepreneurs and government are joining forces to reduce and, where possible, eliminate plastic pollution in the Wadden Sea region. The partners are doing this through a circular approach and a well-founded system change.