Blue activity Lars Havighorst from Blue activity presented sustainable industrial cooling water treatment without the use of hazardous substances. ‘In Germany, industry accounts for around 75 per cent of water use. However, hygiene assurance leads to a high level of pollution: around 1.6 million tonnes of biocides are used globally – and that doesn’t have to be the case,’ said Havighorst. Functional microorganisms are intended to completely replace biocides and subsequently reduce water consumption by 38 per cent, water treatment costs by up to 47 per cent and the use of potentially hazardous substances by 100 per cent. Blue activity has completed the pilot phase and is preparing for growth in a lucrative market. In addition to the chemical industry, the start-up is targeting the energy and automotive sectors, among others.