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.

The Plastic Soup in Rivers
When we think of plastic pollution in water, we often associate it with 'the Plastic Soup' in the ocean. But have you heard of the plastic problem in our local rivers? New research suggests plastics...
Bubble Barrier Amsterdam: A Success in Tackling Plastic Pollution
In 2019, Amsterdam became the first city in the world to deploy the innovative Bubble Barrier technology in its iconic canals. Initially launched as a pilot, this pioneering solution has proven its...
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...
How Bubble Barriers Contribute to Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Plastic pollution is a global challenge affecting our rivers, oceans, and the ecosystems that depend on them.[1] At The Great Bubble Barrier, we’ve created an innovative, nature-based solution to...
Fish and Bubble Barriers
By Anne Marieke Eveleens Plastic pollution is a major threat to all water systems worldwide, causing harm to both human and animal life. Therefore, it’s crucial to clean waterways from plastic....
First Community-Led Bubble Barrier Stops Plastic Pollution From Entering the North Sea
MAY 2022 - What started in 2018 as an initiative of concerned citizens, has now grown into a unique, widely supported mission to tackle plastic pollution in the Katwijk region, The Netherlands. This...
8 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea, located in the southeastern part of the North Sea, offers unique geological and ecological values to the region. Spanning an area across Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, it is...
6 Women Making an Impact on Our Ocean
6 Women Making an Impact on Our Ocean
In honour of International Women’s Day, we would like to introduce you to 6 women making an impact on our ocean by spearheading various initiatives to combat ocean-related problems. Learn more about...
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...
Stop Single use plastic Regulation
Can Regulation Solve Plastic Pollution?
There is an estimated 200 million tonnes of plastic in our oceans and at the current rate, ocean plastic pollution could increase by half as much again within the next 10 years [1]. Robust,...