The Great Bubble Barrier
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Great Bubble Barrier does
The Great Bubble Barrier B.V. is a Dutch social enterprise, incorporated in 2017 and headquartered in Amsterdam, that has developed and commercializes a physical "Bubble Barrier" system to intercept plastic pollution in rivers and other waterways before it reaches the ocean. The system consists of three integrated components: a perforated rubber tube placed diagonally across a waterway bottom that pumps air to form a bubble curtain, an electric compressor (where possible powered by renewable energy) that supplies the air, and a catchment system on the riverbank that retains the plastic. The bubble curtain creates an upward current that lifts submerged plastic to the surface, and the diagonal placement leverages natural flow to direct waste toward the catchment system; the design covers the full width and depth of the waterway without impeding fish passage or ship traffic, and operates 24/7. Reported performance metrics include an 86% catch rate of floating plastic, capture range from 1mm to 2m, and 80 kg/month of dry debris removed by the Amsterdam installation (with 71%+ being plastic).
The company sells its installations primarily to governments, water authorities, and municipalities, with pricing starting at €350K per deployment structured as multi-year project contracts delivered through a four-phase process (Feasibility Study, Realisation, Operation & Maintenance, Monitoring & Awareness). Five installations are active: Amsterdam (2019), Wervershoof (2019, wastewater treatment plant pilot), Katwijk (2022, first citizen-initiated), Vila do Conde, Portugal (2023, EU MAELSTROM project), and Harlingen (2024, UNESCO Wadden Sea). Revenue is supplemented by corporate sponsorship packages, individual donations (including a "Bubble Brigade" monthly program via WhyDonate), EU grants (Horizon 2020, MAELSTROM, Climate KIC), and awards-related prize funding. The team numbers 10–20 employees and is led by three co-founders: Francis Zoet (COO), Anne Marieke Eveleens (CBDO), and Philip Ehrhorn (CTO), supported by an advisory board spanning marketing, operations, project management, and finance.
The Great Bubble Barrier firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Great Bubble Barrier
- Legal name
- The Great Bubble Barrier B.V.
- Website
- https://thegreatbubblebarrier.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Great Bubble Barrier is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Great Bubble Barrier business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Bubble Barrier Sales & Installation: Selling and installing Bubble Barrier systems to governments, municipalities, and water authorities. Pricing starts at 350K per installation. Revenue generated through project contracts with government entities.
- Sponsorship & Private Partnerships: Private organizations can sponsor Bubble Barrier installations for brand visibility, event participation, press opportunities, and social media exposure.
- Donations: Individual and organizational donations support the mission. Monthly donation program called 'Bubble Brigade' with exclusive updates and merchandise.
- EU and Government Grants: Funding from EU projects like MAELSTROM (70% EU-funded pilot), Horizon 2020, Climate KIC, and various national/regional government funds for environmental projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Bubble Barrier Installation - Starting price for river plastic capture system |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Great Bubble Barrier product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Great Bubble Barrier designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a proprietary physical Bubble Barrier system that captures plastic pollution across the full width and depth of rivers and waterways. The system consists of a bubble curtain created by pumping air through a perforated tube on the waterway bottom, an electric compressor for air supply, and a catchment system to retain collected plastic. The company also offers associated services including project implementation, feasibility studies, and plastic pollution monitoring using the OSPAR river method.
Product overview
The Great Bubble Barrier is a social enterprise offering a unified physical technology system—the Bubble Barrier—to capture plastic pollution in rivers and waterways. The core product consists of three integrated components: a Bubble Curtain (perforated rubber tubing creating the air bubble barrier), an Electric Compressor System (powering the bubble curtain), and a Catchment System (collecting captured plastics). The company also offers associated services including plastic pollution monitoring using the OSPAR method and full project implementation from feasibility through operation. The system covers the full width and depth of waterways, operates 24/7, and is designed not to hinder fish migration or ship traffic. Pricing for government infrastructure starts at €350K. The company has deployed multiple project-specific installations in locations including Amsterdam, Harlingen, Katwijk, Vila do Conde (Portugal), and Wervershoof.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bubble Barrier System A proprietary physical bubble curtain technology system that captures plastic pollution across the full width and depth of rivers. Uses pumped air through a perforated tube on the waterway bottom to create an upward current directing plastics to the surface, where diagonal placement pushes waste into a catchment system. Sold to governments, municipalities, and water authorities with installations starting at €350K.
- Plastic Pollution Monitoring Services Research and monitoring services using the OSPAR river method to categorize and analyze plastic catch data across 100+ waste categories. Provides insights into pollution types, levels, and origins to support policy change and prevent future plastic entry into waterways. Offered in partnership with Plastic Soup Foundation and Waternet.
- Project Implementation Services Full-service Bubble Barrier implementation including feasibility studies, system design customized to river characteristics, permitting, installation, and ongoing operational support. Delivered through a four-phase process: Feasibility Study (3 months), Realisation (6 months), Operation & Maintenance, and Monitoring & Awareness.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% catch rate of floating plastic pollution
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Great Bubble Barrier
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Great Bubble Barrier technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
The Great Bubble Barrier partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- MAELSTROM ConsortiumflagshipEU-H2020 project with 14 partners from 8 European countries. Bubble Barrier Vila do Conde is part of this project (70% EU-funded pilot). Coordinated by Italian National Research Council (CNR). Aims to implement innovative solutions for marine litter removal and recycling.
- DeltarescoreResearch partner conducting lab testing of Bubble Barrier technology with various plastic types. Collaborates on flow dynamics research for different waterway conditions.
- KWR Water Research InstitutecoreWater research institute partnering on microplastics research at Wervershoof wastewater treatment plant. Investigates Bubble Barrier effectiveness in trapping microplastics 0.02-0.5mm.
- Plastic Soup FoundationcoreResearch partner for Amsterdam Bubble Barrier monitoring. Performs brand audits and waste categorization using OSPAR method. Joint research on plastic pollution trends.
- WaternetcoreAmsterdam water management company that cleans city waterways daily. Partner in research alliance for Bubble Barrier Amsterdam monitoring and plastic catch analysis.
- Wageningen Marine ResearchminorResearch partner studying fish behavior and migration patterns around Bubble Barrier systems.
- AMS InstituteminorAmsterdam Institute for Advanced Urban Solutions - research partnership for urban water solutions.
- Coast BustersminorLocal citizen initiative in Katwijk that organized beach clean-ups and awareness activities, leading to citizen-initiated Bubble Barrier Katwijk.
- GleisteinminorPledge partner contributing consistently to help organization grow and scale impact worldwide.
- Open WaterminorPledge partner supporting consistent work to grow and scale impact.
- Herik (vdherik)coreEngineering partner providing consistent commitment to Bubble Barrier projects. Contributes to technical design and implementation.
- Herbert Smith FreehillsminorNetwork partner supporting mission and amplifying impact alongside like-minded organizations.
- DeloitteminorNetwork partner connecting with like-minded organizations and amplifying impact.
- The Water CouncilminorNetwork partner in water technology ecosystem.
- UNESCO Green CitizensminorNetwork partner under UNESCO Green Citizens initiative.
- By The Ocean We UniteminorOcean awareness organization; friend of the mission raising awareness and rallying support for cleaner planet.
- Plastic Soup SurferminorEnvironmental initiative sharing knowledge and tools to increase awareness around plastic pollution.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Great Bubble Barrier competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- RanMarine Technology: Dutch company producing autonomous surface-cleaning drones (WasteShark) for harbors, rivers, and ponds. Comparable mission of removing floating plastics from inland water bodies, with overlapping Dutch ecosystem and EU municipal buyers.
- 4ocean: US-based for-profit employing cleanup crews and funding ocean and river cleanups through branded product sales. Comparable business model of monetizing plastic cleanup via corporate/consumer sponsorship, but with labor-based rather than engineered infrastructure approach.
- Clearbot: Hong Kong-based startup building autonomous electric boats that collect floating waste from harbors and waterways. Adjacent technology approach (autonomous floating collection) targeting the same plastic-capture use case as The Great Bubble Barrier.
Broad incumbents
- Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that operates plastic collection networks in coastal communities and issues 'plastic credits' to corporate sponsors. Overlapping mission of stopping ocean-bound plastic and operating a sponsorship/ESG funding model, but focused on collection incentives rather than river infrastructure.
Direct peers
- The Ocean Cleanup: Non-profit deploying Interceptor systems to capture plastic in rivers (e.g., Klang, Rio Las Vacas) before it reaches oceans. Directly comparable mission and product architecture to The Great Bubble Barrier's river plastic capture use case, but with significantly larger scale and global footprint.
- RiverRecycle: Finnish company installing river plastic collection systems (e.g., in Indonesia and India) and converting recovered plastic into products. Closely comparable model of deploying physical infrastructure in rivers with downstream processing.
- Seabin Project: Australian company producing floating smart bins ('Seabins') that capture floating plastics, oils, and debris in marinas and waterways. Comparable mission (intercept plastics in water bodies) and customer base of harbors, marinas, and municipalities, though focused on smaller enclosed water bodies rather than rivers.
- Plastic Fischer: German social enterprise deploying low-cost river barriers ('TrashBooms') and sorting facilities in India and Indonesia to stop plastic in waterways. Directly competes in the river plastic interception niche with similar municipal/government GTM in emerging markets.
Others
- Plastic Soup Foundation: Dutch NGO focused on plastic pollution awareness, research, and policy advocacy. Listed as The Great Bubble Barrier's research partner for Amsterdam monitoring — thematically aligned, contributes OSPAR data and brand audits, but does not compete commercially.
Regional players
- Mr. Trash Wheel: Baltimore Inner Harbor waterwheel family (Mr. Trash Wheel, Professor Trash Wheel, Captain Trash Wheel) that uses hydro-powered wheels to collect floating debris. Comparable water-trash capture concept but deployed in US harbors rather than European rivers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Great Bubble Barrier social profiles
Digital presenceThe Great Bubble Barrier financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Great Bubble Barrier leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
The Great Bubble Barrier funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Great Bubble Barrier M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Great Bubble Barrier
What does The Great Bubble Barrier do?
The Great Bubble Barrier designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a proprietary physical Bubble Barrier system that captures plastic pollution across the full width and depth of rivers and waterways. The system consists of a bubble curtain created by pumping air through a perforated tube on the waterway bottom, an electric compressor for air supply, and a catchment system to retain collected plastic. The company also offers associated services including project implementation, feasibility studies, and plastic pollution monitoring using the OSPAR river method.
Is The Great Bubble Barrier a public or private company?
The Great Bubble Barrier is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Great Bubble Barrier founded?
The Great Bubble Barrier was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Great Bubble Barrier based?
The Great Bubble Barrier is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does The Great Bubble Barrier make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bubble Barrier Sales & Installation is the primary driver. The others are sponsorship & Private Partnerships, donations and EU and Government Grants.
Who are The Great Bubble Barrier's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are RanMarine Technology, 4ocean and Clearbot. Plastic Bank is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are The Ocean Cleanup, RiverRecycle, Seabin Project and Plastic Fischer. Plastic Soup Foundation is listed as an others. Mr. Trash Wheel is listed as a regional player.
Does The Great Bubble Barrier have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Great Bubble Barrier.