On the 13th and 14th of November, the new edition of the initiative MICRO (2.0) – Microplastics Investigation for Comprehensive Research and Observation took place. The event was organized by Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, following last year’s MICRO 1.0 edition, in close collaboration with the Chemistry Department of the Montani Technical and Technological Institute of Fermo.
The 2025 edition began on 13th November with its first activity in Sant’Alvise, involving sand sampling across the entire available area (about 300 m²) for microplastics and the monitoring of stranded marine litter. With the help of apps developed by VLPF within the HEUROPE REMEDIES and SeaClear2.0 projects, the litter stranded in the area was classified, collected, weighed, and delivered to the local waste management authority. Altogether, 139.7 kg of waste was removed, including 19.4 kg of plastic, for a total of 1,780 items recorded. The most common categories were glass fragments and plastic bottles for soft drinks and mineral water, confirming the persistence of waste linked to urban and tourist–recreational activities. This first working session provided useful data for comparing anthropic pressure over time and the types of waste abandoned in nature.
On the 14th of November, activities continued on the Island of Certosa, in collaboration with VdV / Vento di Venezia of the Venezia Certosa Marina, where a further 1,000 m² were sampled and a dedicated clean-up took place in the area of the island facing the Arsenale. During the day, 120.36 kg of stranded waste was collected, of which 40.22 kg was plastic. This action not only cleaned the area but also provided valuable comparative data for understanding waste accumulation dynamics in the northeastern sector of the lagoon.
The MICRO1&2.0 project was created with the aim of deepening the study of microplastics, fragments now ubiquitous in marine and coastal systems but still poorly understood in terms of distribution, characteristics, and impacts. Venice Lagoon Plastic Free and the Montani Institute have developed a citizen science model that combines education, research, and laboratory analysis, enabling students to actively participate in data collection and interpretation. As in previous editions, the 2025 project maintained its four main phases: technical preparation, field sampling and research, laboratory analysis, and dissemination of results.
During sampling, students and researchers collected surface material samples following an accurate methodology ensuring statistical representativeness. The samples will then be processed using a protocol that includes:
(i) biodegradable or otherwise non-toxic flotation solutions for operators and the environment;
(ii) oxidation of biotic organic matter to avoid interference;
(iii) cascade filtrations to eliminate subjective size classification of microplastics;
(iv) morphological classification and counting of microplastics.
Polymer identification will be carried out using FTIR and micro-FTIR spectroscopy, while in more complex cases GC-MS will be used to analyze the molecular signature of substances released from macro-, meso-, and microplastics. The technique developed is inspired by the principles of Green Analytical Chemistry, and with dedicated software (AGREE Prep), its environmental sustainability has been assessed—one of the project’s distinguishing features.
A fundamental role in making the project possible is played by the IMG Group, the initiative’s official donor. Active in the polymer industry since 1959 and a pioneer in PET film extrusion, IMG Group is committed to supporting projects aligned with its strategic sustainability goals, which include environmental education, recycling, regenerative training, ecosystem restoration, and social justice.
Alongside the IMG Group, the Chemistry Department of “G. e M. Montani” Technical Technological Institute of Fermo again provided technical-instrumental support and scientific expertise this year, contributing to the methodological strength of the campaign.
Since its first edition, this experience proved to be much more than a teaching activity. It represented an opportunity to engage directly with science, understand the urgency of microplastic pollution, and contribute concretely to protecting the lagoon ecosystem. The data collected in 2025, integrated with those from last year, will enrich the current knowledge base and enable the development of increasingly effective methodologies. With the work carried out between Sant’Alvise and Certosa, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free strengthens its mission to unite research, education, and community participation, so that the World Heritage Site of Venice and its Lagoon can be studied, understood, and therefore preserved more consciously and effectively through the joint effort of schools and the third sector.