Our impact

Cleaning rivers from plastic pollution with bubbles

At The Great Bubble Barrier, we are committed to making a measurable impact on reducing plastic pollution in rivers and canals. We apply proven best practices and methodologies to measure our impact. Backed by data and research, our insights help shape policies and drive sustainable solutions. Learn more about our impact below.

Bubble Barriers capturing plastic

Bubble Barriers capturing plastic

OUR BUBBLE BARRIERS

Explore our impact

OUR RESEARCH METHODS

How do we monitor our impact?

Bubble Barriers are used as monitoring tools to assess plastic pollution types, levels and origins in each location. The data collected through monitoring our catch is important to effectively prevent plastic from entering rivers and canals in the future.

To ensure accuracy, collected waste is dried first, and organic materials are sorted out and excluded. This provides a clear understanding of plastic pollution without inflating results. Once the waste is dried and sorted, we categorize it using the river-OSPAR method, an international standard for waste monitoring.

This systemic approach helps us identify pollution trends and compare data across locations, guiding our efforts to address plastic pollution more effectively.

OUR BLOG POSTS

Read more about plastic pollution

Besides researching our Bubble Barrier impact, we continuously work on amplifying the latest global research on plastic pollution. Because the more we know, the better equipped we are to tackle the issue at the root.

United Nations 2023 Water un water conference in New York, main takeaways
Our Main Take-Away From the UN 2023 Water Conference
The United Nations 2023 Water Conference took place from 22-24 March in New York focusing mainly on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All. A historical event, as it was the first UN Water...
How Do We Monitor Plastic Pollution in Rivers?
Bubble Barriers are effective tools for catching plastic pollution in rivers. After removing the plastic waste from waterways, we are able to closely sort and monitor the catch. The collected data...
project MAELSTROM launches a Bubble Barrier in Portugal
European project MAELSTROM launches a Bubble Barrier in Portugal to catch Plastic in the Ave River at Vila do Conde
VILA DO CONDE, 25 November 2023 - Project MAELSTROM brings together a consortium of 14 international partners with the mission to investigate and implement innovative technologies for the...
Meet our Impact Researcher, Finn Begemann
Understanding and quantifying our impact is an essential part of the work we do at The Great Bubble Barrier. Today we chat with Finn Begemann, our former Impact Researcher, to learn more about how...
Local Communities Taking Action to Clean Their Rivers from Plastic with Bubble Barriers
Local Communities Taking Action to Clean Their Rivers
Citizens and local communities witnessed the plastic problem in their rivers and took matters into their own hands. Through their perseverance and outreach, they helped install a Bubble Barrier to...
Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026
The Great Bubble Barrier Named Finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026
Amsterdam, 13 October 2025 – The Great Bubble Barrier is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2026 in the Water category. Out of 7,761...
The Problem with Bioplastics
Plastic from renewable resources is already commonly available on the market, but terms such as ‘bioplastic’, ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ can be confusing for consumers. These terms are often...
Our Take on the UN Ocean Conference 2022
The UN Ocean Conference took place from 27th June to 1st July in Lisbon, Portugal under the theme: “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of SDG 14: Life...
What are Microplastics? The Great Bubble Barrier
What Are Microplastics?
Let’s get to know microplastics! Plastic is integrated into our daily lives in so many ways, yet sometimes it goes unnoticed, especially microplastics. Understanding its definition, impacts, and...
Plastic Recycling
Plastic is a popular product which is widely used, with an increase in global annual production from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to over 400 million tonnes today [1]. A major reason for the success of...