Plastic Fischer wins the Next Economy Award of the German Sustainability Award
Plastic Fischer went home as the proud winner of the Next Economy Award at the 16th German Sustainability Award. The young company was able to prevail over more than 150 applicants and impress the high-caliber jury and the audience with its pragmatic, operational approach and innovative business model during the final pitch on the day of the event.
Award ceremony for Plastic Fischer
© Christian Koester
Plastic Fischer is a Cologne-based social enterprise that protects the biodiversity of the oceans from plastic pollution. To this end, the start-up has developed a simple and inexpensive technology that effectively stops plastic in rivers. The floating barriers (TrashBooms) are used in the world‘s dirtiest rivers. Plastic Fischer employs people on site to collect the stopped material and prepare it for the best possible recycling in its own sorting facilities.
At the beginning of November 2023, the start-up reached the milestone of 1000 t of plastic, which it has fished out and processed in the best possible way. Plastic Fischer counts more than 50 companies, including Allianz, Covestro and Siemens, among its partners and can count on the support of hundreds of private individuals who also share the vision of clean rivers and oceans.
The floating barriers (TrashBooms) are used in the world's dirtiest rivers
© Dariusz Misztal
The German Sustainability Award, which recognizes exemplary sustainable companies in various categories, is one of the largest and most recognized competitions of its kind in Europe.
Karsten Hirsch, founder and Managing Director of Plastic Fischer, accepted the award and proudly declared: “We are delighted to have won this important award from the German Sustainability Award. The Next Economy Award recognizes innovative business models that are designed to advance the ‘new economy’. In order to carry out our work, we had to get creative. Not only how we stop and process plastic in rivers, but also how we finance it. We are very proud that more than 50 companies and hundreds of individuals have already decided to support Plastic Fischer‘s measurable and verified impact. Thanks to them and the hard work of now almost 90 full-time Plastic Fischers, we were able to fish out and process our thousandth ton of plastic this year. We are delighted that their hard work has been recognized with this award and hope that many more companies will join us in taking a stand against greenwashing and for real environmental protection and secure jobs in emerging markets.
Plastic Fischer‘s goal is to become the world‘s leading company in preventing the most ocean plastic in the coming years. Operationally, we can achieve this – what we lack is sufficient financial support. We are happy about every organization and private person who wants to fish with us: .“
