MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Hyundai Italia presents Mission to Blue, a project that marks the brand’s entry into the Water Defenders Alliance (WDA) coordinated by the LifeGate benefit company: the national network that unites enterprises, institutions, ports, local communities, start-ups and research centers with the aim to develop concrete actions for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity in Italy. Hyundai’s accession to the Water Defenders Alliance is located in the vision “Progress for Humanity” that directs the brand’s activities towards projects that can have positive impacts on local communities. With Mission to Blue, this vision takes shape from the commitment to preserving fresh and marine waters, today exposed to significant environmental pressures such as those represented by accidental spills of oils and hydrocarbons, from the presence of waste, to the growing fragility of habitats. As part of the initiative, Hyundai economically supports the provision of special kits that can absorb oils and hydrocarbons accidentally spilled into waters that exploit FoamFlex technology, an Italian patent developed by T1 Solutions – start-up of clean tech. It is an innovative spongy material, able to absorb, selectively compared to water, oils and hydrocarbons up to 30 times its weight and is reusable up to 200 times. It also allows to recover up to the totality of the harvest, giving it to the supply chain of the exhausted oils.
The route of Hyundai in the Water Defenders Alliance departs from Milan where the first FoamFlex kit has been made available to the Consorzio Est Ticino Villoresi, “custode” of Navigli and the waters that cross the city, in order to be able to manage promptly any conversations that were to occur. T1 declares that each kilo of FoamFlex can absorb up to 6,000 kg of hydrocarbons in its life cycle, significantly reducing the impact of accidental spills and contributing to the prevention of chemical pollution of water. A technology already recognized by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security for use at sea in remediation processes as inert products from the chemical and biological point of view, i.e. that do not disperse polluted materials in water.
“With Mission to Blue we want to make a local contribution to the territories in which we operate. The entry into the Water Defenders Alliance coordinated by LifeGate is a natural step in the route of Hyundai in Italy: we believe in an innovation that does its best to improve the lives of people and that translates into a measurable impact – said Francesco Calcara, president and CEO of Hyundai Italy – . The project is a virtuous example of how research, industry and territory can collaborate to protect a fundamental resource like water. This network of companies networking skills and responsibilities, so that different territories can count on effective tools to improve their ecosystem. It is a commitment that we feel deeply, because the sea tells us who we are and the future we want to build”.
“This is an important commitment we have just inaugurated but will decline in the course of 2026 with other initiatives,” explained Giulio Marc D’Alberton, head of PR & Event of Hyundai Italy.
“Water is an essential resource for our well-being: act now is a shared responsibility. For this reason we are pleased to welcome Hyundai in the Water Defenders Alliance, the alliance that unites all representatives of civil society to defend the health of our waters – said Lajal Andreoletti, responsible for environmental projects of LifeGate – . The solution presented today fully embodies this vision because, in addition to contributing concretely to the reduction of pollution, it promotes a profound cultural change. Each of us, in fact, through our own choices and daily gestures, can and must become part of the solution.”.
“The ability of enterprises to network, together with institutions, research and local communities, is a strategic value to address the environmental challenges not only of the city, but of the country – said Elena Grandi, Environment and Green Council of the City of Milan – . That is why I thank Hyundai, LifeGate and all the realities involved in the Water Defenders Alliance, for their shared commitment in the protection of our waters. Technology and innovation, together with the sense of responsibility and belonging to the city, will certainly generate a positive and concrete impact on the territory.”.
photo: xm4/Italpress
(ITALPRESS).
