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.

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...
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....
Bubble Barrier Amsterdam Captures Over 1 Million Pieces of Plastic
Bubble Barrier Amsterdam Captures Over 1 Million Pieces of Plastic – A Milestone for Cleaner Waterways
Amsterdam, 20 August 2025 – Since its launch in 2019, Bubble Barrier Amsterdam has successfully intercepted more than 1,000,000 pieces of plastic from the city’s waterways, marking a major milestone...
Plastic soup foundating
Research on the Bubble Barrier’s Caught Waste by the Plastic Soup Foundation
AMSTERDAM, September 15, 2020 – In the run-up to this Saturday's World Cleanup Day 2020 a research alliance into the plastic catch of the Bubble Barrier at the Westerdok in Amsterdam is announced....
What the High Seas Treaty Ratification Means for Our Ocean
On Friday, 19 September 2025, the world made history. The High Seas Treaty was officially ratified, a milestone nearly twenty years in the making. First introduced by the United Nations (UN) in...
Understanding Sources of Riverine Plastic
As much as 80% of the plastic found in our oceans is transported from the land by rivers[i]. Even more, plastic may be trapped in our rivers, never reaching the seas. But how does plastic get into...
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...
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...
Six Organisations Tackling Plastic Pollution
7 Organisations Tackling Plastic Pollution in our Waterways

Plastic pollution is a major threat to our waterways, affecting ecosystems and human health. Tackling this problem requires creative and collaborative solutions. Meet six organisations working to reduce and prevent plastic pollution in our rivers and canals.