The alliance
LifeGate, with over 20 years of experience in sustainability, is the driving force behind the Alliance. Sustainability is deeply rooted in LifeGate's DNA. Since 2000, the organization has been promoting lifestyles, production methods and consumption patterns that are more responsible toward the planet and people, always mindful of environmental, social and economic well-being.
From the beginning, LifeGate has been developing socio-environmental projects to empower individuals and businesses to create a positive, science-based, and tangible impact on the major challenges of our time. Within this scope, LifeGate assumes scientific and communication responsibilities for each initiative. On one hand, it ensures the environmental relevance of the proposed initiatives by measuring their impact, and on the other hand, it maintains the narrative oversight to guarantee the effectiveness of the message aimed at cultural change.
Who are the Defenders
COMPANIES
Businesses are the beating heart of the country's economic and social fabric, which is why they must be the main allies to defend the health and well-being of the territory and its community. The sea is an element of identity for Italy and every company, in whatever sector it operates, plays a key role in this fundamental challenge to safeguard one of the country's most precious resources, fundamental for the very survival of people.
PEOPLE
The daily behaviors of all of us have compromised the health of our seas but can now represent the solution, by adopting good practices in our daily lifestyle. But people can do even more: actively participate in the alliance by transforming their love for the sea into a fundamental action to save it. Ultimately, no one wants to swim in a polluted sea or lake.
PORTS AND INSTITUTIONS
Ports and institutions, points of contact between people and the sea or lake, are among the protagonists of the alliance because they "inhabit" the territories where the problems of seas and lakes are most visible. This is why their support and commitment is fundamental, without it it would not be possible to intervene. But precisely because they are the realities in contact with the problem, they are also those most interested in finding solutions, personally committing themselves to making them possible.
ENTI DI RICERCA, UNIVERSITÀ e realtà tecnologiche
Le università e gli enti di ricerca italiani, hanno un ruolo fondamentale nell’Alleanza, grazie all’impegno profuso nel conoscere i problemi del mare, nello studiare le conseguenze che questi hanno sul nostro futuro e nel contribuire a trovare le soluzioni science based più efficaci, innovative ed efficienti, grazie anche alla collaborazione con le realtà tecnologiche.
The alliance starts with important allies who have already decided to have a positive impact on the health of our waters.
The Defenders
ACEA MARATONA ROMA
Contribuisce alla cattura di plastiche e microplastiche con 1 Seabin nel Lazio, al Blue Dolphin di Roma Fiumicino.
AGN ENERGIA
Contribuisce alla cattura di plastiche e microplastiche grazie al Seabin in funzione presso Assonautica La Spezia, un'associazione senza scopo di lucro nata dall'iniziativa della Camera di Commercio della Spezia.
BRITA
Contribuisce alla cattura di plastiche e microplastiche con 1 Seabin presso la Marina Blue Dolphin di Fiumicino e con 1 Trash Collec'thor sull'Isola della Certosa (Venezia).
coop italia
It contributes, as part of its "Blue Forest" project, to habitat restoration actions, in particular by allowing monitoring, restoration and protection actions of stretches of Posidonia oceanica meadows, a very important marine plant indicative of the quality of our seas, in the two-year period 2024 -2025 in three territories: in Liguria, with the reforestation of 200 m2 of seagrass in the Bergeggi Island Marine Protected Area; in Puglia, with the monitoring of three large posidonia beds in regression; in Tuscany with the positioning of a buoy field in 2025 to protect the regressing seagrass beds on the island of Elba, where a further 100 m2 of seagrass will also be reforested.
cosnova
Partecipa contribuendo a ridurre l'inquinamento nei mari e nei laghi da plastiche e microplastiche con 1 Seabin in Liguria, al Marina Genova, e 1 Seabin in Trentino Alto Adige, sul Lago di Garda, presso il Fraglia Vela Riva a Riva del Garda dove è anche operativo il kit idrocarburi dato in dotazione allo storico circolo velico sul Garda.
Inoltre, grazie al coinvolgimento del Porto Antico di Genova, Cosnova permette anche di contrastare l’inquinamento da idrocarburi dotando il Marina Fiera Genova di un kit porto e di 100 kit per diportisti in dotazione alle barche da diporto che ormeggiano al Marina.
creditis
Contributes to the capture of plastics and microplastics with 1 Seabin in Liguria, at the Porto Antico of Genoa.
Findus
Contribuisce alla cattura di plastiche e microplastiche con 3 Seabin posizionati in 3 regioni italiane: nel Veneto a Venezia presso il Venezia Certosa Marina, sull’Isola della Certosa, in Toscana a Viareggio presso Arpeca Viareggio e in Puglia alla Lega Navale di Brindisi.
Inoltre ha permesso di dotare il Marina di Villasimius (CA), in Sardegna, del kit per prevenire, assorbire e stoccare gli sversamenti accidentali di oli e idrocarburi in mare.
Fineco
Contributes to three major Water Defenders Alliance challenges in four different territories: to contribute to the capture of floating waste it adopts 2 Seabins, one at the Marina Santelena in Venice and one at the Blue Dolphin in Rome Fiumicino; and a Pixie Drone that stops in three Italian locations: in Venice, Palermo and then arriving in Rome Fiumicino. It also contributed to restoring the habitat of the Smart Bay Santa Teresa by allowing a deep cleaning action of the seabed. Furthermore, Fineco also contributes to combating chemical pollution from accidental oil spills in the port of Palermo and at the Marina Santelena in Venice where 100 kits were also distributed to yachtsmen.
HYUNDAI ITALIA
Hyundai Italia lancia “Mission to blue”, il nuovo progetto di sostenibilità ambientale che vede l’azienda aderire alla Water Defenders Alliance attraverso un supporto economico volto all’adozione dei kit Foam Flex per prevenire l’inquinamento derivante da sversamenti accidentali di oli e idrocarburi nelle nostre acque. L’adesione di Hyundai Italia all’Alleanza promossa da LifeGate parte da Milano, grazie alla dotazione di un kit che sarà utilizzato dal Consorzio di Bonifica Est Ticino Villoresi nella Darsena della città, luogo iconico che sottolinea lo storico legame tra Milano e l’acqua.
Mareblu
Grazie a Mareblu, nella primavera 2025, si realizza l'attività di piantumazione di Cymodocea nodosa, pianta marina molto presente nell'Alto Adriatico.
Il team di Shoreline, partner scientifico dell'iniziativa, pianterà nell’Area Marina Protetta di Miramare, in provincia di Trieste, circa 2.000 talee in un’area di 100 mq che presenta caratteristiche particolarmente favorevoli, perché, in qualità di Area Marina Protetta, è soggetta a una serie di tutele, come il divieto ad ancorare sui fondali.
Da un mese dopo il trapianto, e
fino alla fine del 2026, varie missioni di monitoraggio valuteranno il successo
dell’iniziativa.
NEXT GEOSOLUTIONS EUROPE
It contributes to the capture of plastics and microplastics with 1 Seabin located in the Naval League of Naples at the Molosiglio Port.
olos
Contributes to the capture of plastics and microplastics with 1 Seabin in Campania, on the island of Procida (Naples) at the Chiaiolella yachting club.
OMODA&JAECOO
Omoda&Jaecoo partecipa alla Water Defenders Alliance adottando tre dispositivi Seabin per catturare plastiche e microplastiche nei porti di Venezia (Isola della Certosa), Rimini (Marina Blu) e Palermo.
PAM PANORAMA
It contributes to combating chemical pollution from accidental oil spills at the Marina San Giusto in Trieste, where a kit has been distributed.
PAYBACK AND ITS PARTNERS
They contribute to carrying out three missions to recover waste sunk to the seabed thanks to teams of professional divers, led by the project's marine biologist, in two different locations: in Liguria between Vado Ligure and Bergeggi and in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the Gulf of Trieste.
Q8 Sailing for Change
L’iniziativa promossa da Q8 Italia con la collaborazione scientifica di LifeGate condivide gli obiettivi dell’alleanza promuovendo un cambiamento culturale nel mondo dei porti e della diportistica per salvaguardare la salute delle acque dall’inquinamento di oli e idrocarburi. Con questa iniziativa si promuove la distribuzione dei kit per contrastare gli sversamenti di oli e idrocarburi, già dati in dotazione a 20 porti italiani che diventeranno 40 entro l’estate 2025. Inoltre, in occasione di Barcolana56 sono stati distribuiti anche 1.000 kit per i diportisti tra quelli iscritti alla prestigiosa regata di Trieste.
RIO MARE
Contributes to the capture of plastics and microplastics with 1 Seabin in Sicily, at the Circolo Nautico Di Favignana. It has also equipped the boats in the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area with special kits to prevent, absorb and store accidental oil spills. And, for the first time, it allowed the world of fishing to be involved by equipping 38 fishermen authorized to operate in the Marine Protected Area between Favignana and Marettimo with the hydrocarbon kit.
SAIPEM
Contribuisce alla cattura di plastiche e microplastiche con 2 Seabin che catturano anche le microplastiche fino a 2 mm di diametro.
Un dispositivo è posizionato a Venezia, nell’Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore; e l'altro è in funzione nella Darsena di Milano, presso l'Associazione Nazionale Marinai d'Italia - gruppo di Milano.
SCREEN
With the SCREEN line Purest contributes to the capture of plastics and microplastics with 1 Seabin in Abruzzo in Pescara.
SPLENDIDO HOTEL GRUPPO BELMOND
L'Hotel Splendido di Portofino, parte del Gruppo Belmond; nell'ambito della sua attenzione alla sostenibilità e al rispetto delle risorse naturali, partecipa all'alleanza adottando un dispositivo Seabin in funzione nella vicina Santa Margherita Ligure
I partner scientifici e tecnologici dell’alleanza
aquageo coN Aqualis
Aquageo, l’azienda veneta specializzata in soluzioni avanzate per la gestione delle acque, contribuisce all'alleanza in alla difesa delle acque grazie a una nuova tecnologia, interamente sviluppata in Italia, che raccoglie rifiuti galleggianti, plastiche e microplastiche, oli e idrocarburi. I dispositivi Aqualis sono già scelti da aziende e amministrazioni per la pulizia di mari, laghi e porti. Oltre ai singoli dispositivi, Aqualis è un progetto di ampio respiro, che interviene a monte del problema, con un modello integrato di azione ambientale denominato Blue Pathway sviluppato in tre punti: sensibilizzazione, mitigazione e ripristino.
AREA MARINA PROTETTA MIRAMARE
The Area Marina Protetta Miramare (AMP) is a haven of marine biodiversity located at the gates of the city of Trieste, at the foot of the Miramare Park and Castle, at the heart of a Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO for the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The Area Marina Protetta Miramare (AMP) safeguards 30 hectares of fully protected marine-coastal biodiversity and a 90-hectare buffer zone. Its objectives are to protect and conserve the integrity of the protected area, its geomorphological features, and its biodiversity; to support scientific research applied to marine resource management; and to promote knowledge of the protected environment through the implementation of outreach and educational programs focused on marine-coastal biodiversity, ecology, and sustainability education.
ISSD
Partner of the Alliance for Posidonia planting activities, the International School for Scientific Diving "Anna Proietti Zolla" (ISSD) proposes various other initiatives aimed at research, protection of the underwater environment and dissemination. For several years he has been involved in the restoration of the main coastal marine habitats and has designed and developed the use of biomats for the reforestation of Posidonia oceanica.
Shoreline
Shoreline Società Cooperativa was founded in 1988 and offers services for the management of coastal and marine protection areas with the provision of functional and surveillance services. Provides scientific consultancy for MPAs in the Mediterranean and studies on marine flora and fauna populations; offers data collection and analysis services on the characteristics of the water body and the seabed. It manages research projects in the fields of sustainable aquaculture, environmental restoration and the anthropic impact on marine biocenoses. It has a laboratory for investigations through ecotoxicological analyzes and bioassays on sediments, salt or fresh waters and waste. The leading sector is the decades-long supply of marine monitoring services at the Miramare MPA. It is active in many European projects aimed at environmental conservation and restoration.
SMART BAY SANTA TERESA
Partner of the Alliance for activities to safeguard fragile and important ecosystems, with the restoration of "animal marine forests". It is the first Italian "smart bay": a natural laboratory of research, technology, sustainable tourism and shellfish farming, a virtuous example of collaboration between public and private, which also involves some of the most authoritative research bodies in Italy, to make the Bay of Santa Teresa is an ecosystem model to counteract the effects of climate change.
TETHYS
Partner of the Alliance for research and monitoring activities aimed at safeguarding marine mammals. He was the first to conceive and propose the creation of an emblematic protected area, the Pelagos Sanctuary, for the protection of marine mammals in the Mediterranean and is present at the major international tables that work for the conservation of large marine vertebrates.
T1
Italian startup that has patented the most effective, efficient and sustainable system in use today to capture up to 100% of hydrocarbons spilled into water thanks to practical innovative solutions that can be used by pleasure boaters, fishing boats and ports.
UNIVERSITY OF GENOA
Partner of the Alliance for Posidonia planting activities and for the recovery of ghost nets from the seabed in Marine Protected Areas. The University of Genoa - Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DiSTAV) is among the most active on the topic of protecting marine habitats in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
UNIVERSITY OF PAVIA
Partner of the Alliance for the study and fight against "alien" species in the Gulf of La Spezia. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences has been active for over twenty years in the study of marine alien species in dialogue with the main global research bodies dealing with this problem.
VERDEACQUA IMPRESA SOCIALE
Member of the Alliance for awareness-raising activities in schools and for the coordination activities of the scientific partners involved. This company has been collaborating with LifeGate for years also for the recovery and analysis of waste abandoned on sea and lake beds.
The Ambassadors
ANYWAVE SAILBOAT
Racing sailboat which was the first to introduce the figure of the Ecological Manager on board and for years has been a testimonial of the concept of sustainable sailing alongside the initiatives promoted by Coop together with LifeGate as part of the Water Defenders Alliance.
ASSONAT
Assonat dal 1982 rappresenta la portualità turistica italiana, promuove modelli di gestione sostenibile valorizzando i marina come presìdi ambientali e punti di connessione tra territorio e mare. Nel 2025 ha presentato il primo Piano Strategico nazionale per i marina, a sostegno della Blue Economy.
BARCOLANA & SEA SUMMIT
The most attended European sailing regatta in Italy, which has been held in Trieste for more than fifty years and which in recent years also promotes the Sea Summit, a European event dedicated to dialogue on sustainability between companies, institutions and the world of science.
Ecomondo
The reference event in Europe and the Mediterranean basin for the ecological transition and new circular economy models which, since 2023, has dedicated an entire pavilion to the water cycle & blue economy promoted thanks to the partnership created with the Water Defenders Alliance of LifeGate .
PIANETA MARE FILM FESTIVAL
Films and shorts in competition by directors from 40 nations, with special attention to works that tell the story of the relationships between human beings, the environment and the marine world. The Festival is curated by the Pianeta Mare Darwin Dohrn cultural association and has the Water Defenders Alliance among its partners.
POOL AMBIENTE
Pool Ambiente è il consorzio assicurativo italiano, attivo dal 1979, specializzato nella responsabilità ambientale. Riunisce primarie compagnie per sviluppare soluzioni assicurative e strumenti di prevenzione per le imprese a tutela delle risorse naturali e della salute delle persone
RS21 ITALIAN CLASS
It is a sailing class that has conceived an international regatta circuit with the least possible impact on the environment through, for example, the use of electric motors. Shares and promotes the values of the Water Defenders Alliance.
unipol
Unipol è ambasciatore della Water Defenders Alliance, affiancando LifeGate nella divulgazione di un messaggio semplice e potente: "il mare parte anche dalle nostre case". Grazie a Unipol, LifeGate potrà distribuire mille spugne per assorbire e stoccare gli oli alimentari prevenendo la contaminazione delle acque dolci anche a partire dalle nostre case. Gli eventi di distribuzione saranno legati a "Dominate the Water", manifestazioni sportive di nuoto che vantano la partecipazione di un campione olimpionico, Gregorio Paltrinieri, a supportare l'importanza di questo messaggio.