Q8 Sailing for Change
On a journey together towards change.
New Routes Towards a More Responsible Future
Q8 Sailing for Change is a project created in scientific partnership with LifeGate* to prevent, absorb, and store accidental hydrocarbon spills at sea. The initiative aims to protect the marine environment and promote awareness of environmentally responsible behaviors.
* LifeGate is a benefit corporation recognized for over twenty years as a leading hub for sustainable development.
Two Years Among Italian Ports
Through a journey across various Italian ports, Q8 will engage with a total of 40 locations by 2025, distributing innovative kits developed by T1 Solutions, an Italian company known for its FoamFlex sponges. These sponges are designed to absorb oils efficiently and can be reused up to 200 times without releasing harmful substances into the environment.
The 2024 results
In 2024, Q8 Sailing for Change reached 20 ports.
Thanks to the high absorption capacity of FoamFlex sponges and a collective commitment, the initiative has delivered tangible and meaningful results.
So far, the use of the port kit has prevented the pollution of over 15 million liters of water by capturing approximately 15 liters of oil and hydrocarbons.*
To put it into perspective, this is equivalent to protecting more than 15,000 m² of water—comparable to over 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools.**
* Sources: EPA; 1 liter of absorbed oil = 1,000,000 liters of water potentially saved, meaning it remains uncontaminated by pollution.
** Source: Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), National Consortium for the Management, Collection, and Treatment of Used Mineral Oils (CONOU); 1 liter of hydrocarbons contaminates over 1,000 m² of water. The surface area of an Olympic swimming pool is 1,250 m² (FINA regulations).
The FoamFlex Sponge
6000 kg
Can absorb up to 6,000 kg of hydrocarbons with just 1 kg of material.
100% of oils
Selectively absorbs up to 100% of the oils present, being hydrophobic and oleophilic.
30 times its weight
Absorbs up to 30 times its weight with each use.
The Kit for Boaters
- Designed for the crews of recreational vessels.
- Aims to prevent oil spills in the bilge waters of boats and to respond quickly in case of accidental spills during maintenance and refueling operations.
- Each kit is estimated to have the capacity to absorb up to 540 kilograms of hydrocarbons over its lifetime, equivalent to the fuel of approximately 19 compact cars**.
The Port Kit
- Designed for use by port personnel and companies operating in ports.
- Composed of 10 FoamFlex sponges, specifically designed to absorb and store oils present in the port area, thus preventing potential cases of marine pollution.
- Each kit is estimated to have the capacity to absorb up to 54,000 kilograms of hydrocarbons over its lifetime, equivalent to the fuel of approximately 1,931 compact cars**.
** The collection potential refers to the sponges' ability to capture oils over their lifecycle, allowing for use up to 200 times. The actual data will reflect the real quantities of hydrocarbons present in the water body; this will be influenced by existing pollution, the timeliness of use by the personnel equipped with it, weather factors, and the ability to concentrate it in a restricted operational area. The equivalence in the number of fuel fills considers a 40-liter tank, which is the average capacity of a compact car.Fine modulo
Q8 is the Technical Partner of Barcolana
As part of the Q8 Sailing for Change project, Q8 will join the sailing community by participating in the prestigious Barcolana regatta with its own sailing boat and crew. On this occasion, it will provide 1,000 kits for boaters to participants. During Barcolana, Q8, as the event's partner, will be present at the Sea Summit, where crucial topics related to sustainability and the protection of the marine environment will be discussed, offering its contribution through dedicated initiatives and projects.
