The Cologne-based association Krake has declared war on the garbage floating on the Rhine: around 300 members of the association - known as the Kraklinge - meet regularly to collect garbage. The volunteers have already collected 8.7 tons of floating waste this year. And there could be even more in the future: On September 15, the association put the Rheinkrake into operation - a floating garbage trap based on the British model that fishes waste out of the river around the clock. The innovative concept is supported by the Cologne-based plastics specialist Igus, among others.

The Rhine Octopus is anchored on the left bank of the Rhine, north of the Cologne Zoo Bridge, at Rhine kilometer 690.30. Due to the bend in the Rhine, the current here is particularly good for catching as much waste as possible. The floating litter trap uses a catch basket, which is attached between two floats and opened against the direction of flow. The basket is designed in such a way that it catches plastic floating on the surface of the water, but does not pose a danger to fish and birds. Once a week, the association will empty the Rhine octopus, collect the waste on land and analyze it scientifically in cooperation with the University of Bonn. The environmentalists want to use the findings to conduct a long-term study on plastic waste in the Rhine.

The company Igus, which develops and produces products made of high-performance plastics for industry, is one of the supporters of the project, as it is the company's declared aim to promote a circular economy for plastics. Igus has been recycling 99% of the plastic waste generated in production for over 50 years and launched its own recycling program for used energy chains in 2019. This year also saw the first products made from up to 100% recycled material. The 'igus:bike' project for sustainable urban mobility is also new. The company has also invested in Mura Technology, which uses a new type of technology to turn plastic waste into usable crude oil.