Borealis launches “Water School” website for Finnish children

Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, has joined forces with the Water Institute of Finland and the Finnish Water & Waste Water Works Association to launch "Water School", a free, educational website aimed at increasing school children's understanding of one of the world's most precious resource, water.

"Water School" focuses on drinking and waste water. Individual site sections targeted at children aged 10-11 and 13-14 use fun activities to bring to life the subjects of global water use, the water cycle, water in their homes and the importance of water efficiency. The website demonstrates, for example, how water reaches our taps, what happens to the water that goes down the drain, and how children can affect and protect water systems by considering their own actions.

Available in Finnish and Swedish versions, "Water School" was created in close cooperation with teachers and school authorities. It was widely tested in Finnish schools during the pilot phase, and is being promoted in schools and regional water departments throughout Finland.

The "Water School" initiative is part of Borealis' pioneering "Water for the World programme", which aims to provide sustainable solutions for the availability of safe drinking water and sanitation by fostering local knowledge and partnerships. Borealis has strong ties with Scandinavia, having manufacturing sites and innovation centres in Porvoo, Finland and Stenungsund, Sweden.

"One aspect of the Water for the World programme is to promote and educate on the subject of water efficiency in local communities," comments Dorothea Wiplinger, Borealis Communications Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility. "The Finnish Water School initiative is a great example of how working at a grass-roots level with local authorities can bring creative ideas to fruition and provide a valuable educational tool that will help children to learn more about the importance of water conservation."