The awards ceremony, held in Paris, France, highlighted the best in engaging communication strategies which have contributed to increasing awareness of social, societal and environmental issues.
The Good Net project, having won the coveted Grand Prix award at the Grand Prix Strategies du Sport at the end of last year, picked up gold in the Corporate Image category in the latest edition of the awards. The worldwide sustainability initiative, which was initially launched on Copacabana Beach in March 2019, shows no signs of slowing down in its mission to remove ghost nets from the ocean and give them new life as volleyball nets.
Ghost nets are the deadliest kind of plastic waste and can last for centuries, posing a significant and sustained threat to marine life. Every year, 640,000 tons of fishing equipment is left in the oceans but, in only a short time, the innovative Good Net project has done incredible work in raising awareness for a devastating issue.
Through the coordinated team efforts of the FIVB and environmental group Ghost Fishing Foundation, nets that once endangered marine life are recycled into volleyball nets, embroidered with images of endangered sea creatures. The nets have then been used all around the world by athletes and fans at some of the FIVB’s biggest events, including the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Hamburg and the World Tour Finals in Rome.
The project was the outcome of a collaboration with global branding and design agency Landor, who supported the FIVB in bringing the vision to life.
FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graça F° stated:
“It is only through innovation, commitment and cooperation that we can take responsibility for our oceans and the environment. This is why the FIVB is always passionate about getting involved in projects that promote global and sustainable change through sport, while educating fans on important issues such as ghost nets.”
Source: Volley - fivb.org
