trend:
Sea Health & Restoration
team:
Fabio Dalmonte, CEO Mauro Nardocci, CMO Paolo Senes, CFO Fabrizio Cortesi, Business Growth Consultant
Plastic pollution threatens the oceans with 1.7 million tonnes of waste ending up in the sea each year. 82% of this waste comes from rivers: improving upstream waste management is essential to protect marine biodiversity (SOURCE: OECD, Global Plastic Outlook, 2022).
SEA Defence Solutions (SEADS), with its Blue Barriers, can collect up to 100% of riverine plastic before it reaches the oceans, turning this waste into useful resources for local communities.
meet the startup
SEADS has designed highly efficient river barriers that optimise waste collection without impacting wildlife or navigation, offering a circular solution that maximises recycling to generate value from waste.
The installations along the Tiber, Aniene and Sarno rivers demonstrate the effectiveness of this system. The collection of macro and microplastics was confirmed by laboratory tests and proved that the start-up can address the problem of pollution at different scales.
BLUE BARRIERS TO PROTECT THE OCEANS
SEADS’ journey began in 2018, when Fabio Dalmonte, the company’s CEO, saw first-hand the devastating impact of river and ocean pollution during a waste consulting project in Indonesia. This experience inspired the idea of the Blue Barriers, which are the core business of the startup today. Thanks to the collaboration with the University of Florence, these barriers were developed and refined, culminating in the first installation on the Tiber River in 2021.
The year 2022 marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of the first barrier on the Aniene in Rome. In just 18 months of activity, the barrier collected over 10 tonnes of mixed waste, confirming the positive impact on the environment.
IMPACT
SEADS is committed to protecting rivers and ocean ecosystems by collecting riverine waste and adopting a circular and sustainable waste management model that not only reduces pollution but also generates economic value by recycling and reusing materials.
FAROS AND BEYOND
SEADS is seeking to consolidate its presence in Italy, where the recent ‘Salva-mare’ law opens up new opportunities. The goal is to exploit Italy’s cutting-edge position in the sector to develop a circular economy model that can be replicated in developing economies, where plastic pollution is particularly critical.
The acceleration path with Faros was crucial to establish connections with key players in the field and obtain the support of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. Participation in Call4Startups not only favoured networking opportunities but also broadened perspectives and paved the way for potential investors and technology collaborators.
