Great Bubble Barrier Tackles Plastic Pollution

Each year, millions of tons of plastic enter the ocean via rivers, where cleanup becomes nearly impossible. Born out of a love for the ocean, The Great Bubble Barrier was founded in 2017. Ever since, this Dutch social enterprise has been committed to tackling plastic pollution in rivers before it reaches the ocean.

The Bubble Barrier is an innovative technology that uses air bubbles to remove plastic from waterways. It does this by intercepting plastic waste close to the source, covering the full width and depth of a river, without obstructing the passage of boats or fish. The first long-term Bubble Barrier was installed in Amsterdam in 2019 and has since captured over 1 million pieces of plastic. To date, four systems have been implemented: three in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Katwijk and Harlingen) and one in Vila do Conde, Portugal.

Philip Ehrhorn, the company’s co-founder, will speak at The Water Council’s upcoming ReFRESH Summit on a panel about public-private partnerships.

“As we expand into new markets, including the UK, Asia and now the USA, we are excited to scale our solution globally and bring cleaner rivers to more cities worldwide,” he said. “Entering a new market presents unique challenges, and The Water Council has been very helpful in guiding this process, connecting us with the right network and opening doors within the American market. We look forward to building on this partnership and exploring opportunities across the United States.”