The Great Bubble Barrier

Global challenge

An estimated amount of 8 billion kilograms of plastic enters our oceans every year with severe consequences to wildlife and human health. Plastic debris attracts toxic components, enters our food chain, and emits greenhouse gases. Up to 80% of this marine plastic originates from land via rivers.

 

Our solution

The Great Bubble Barrier stops plastic debris in rivers before it enters our oceans. We have developed the world’s first Bubble Barrier technology to capture plastic in rivers. We create a bubble curtain by pumping air through a perforated tube, placed on the bottom of a river. The plastic is then pushed to the surface and guided to our catchment system. Our Bubble Barriers block plastics over the entire width and depth of a river without hindering ship traffic or fish migration. Once plastic is retained in the catchment system, we ensure sustainable processing of the catch together with our project partners. At the same time, we monitor the amount and types of plastic we catch in waterways to support the development of policy and additional measures against riverine plastic pollution. We are always using our voice to raise awareness on the issue and inspire change towards plastic free rivers.

 

Our timeline

The Amsterdam based social enterprise was founded early 2017. The first long term Bubble Barrier has been installed in the canals of Amsterdam in November 2019 and more cities in the Netherlands and over the world are in the process of implementing this solution in their waterway.