Clean Water Global

What Clean Water Global does

Clean Water Global (CWG) is a Belgium-based sustainability company founded in 2022 that operates a regulated collection, treatment and certification network for paint rinse water generated by professional painters, auto body shops, industrial coaters and construction companies. The company's core service is end-to-end handling of solvent- and water-based coating rinse water — a waste stream historically discharged into drains or shipped as hazardous waste — through a multi-stage filtration process designed to remove PFAS, microplastics, heavy metals and biocides while recovering binders, pigments and other raw materials for circular re-use. Service is delivered through physical hardware (250L KCA/KGA boxes, 900L deposit tanks, 50L jerrycans, 200L drums, 1000L IBC containers) and a digital layer (CWG App and web portal) that issues auditable digital certificates per deposit.

Clean Water Global monetizes across four streams: (1) collection and processing of paint rinse water at €8 per 10 liters processed; (2) a partner commission of €0.10 per liter paid to deposit points (paint wholesalers acting as drop-off hubs); (3) equipment rental and sale of tanks, boxes and consumables; and (4) tool cleaning services priced at €1–€2.75 per item and €39 for a DIY station, plus on-site processing solutions for industrial accounts. The company operates 111 deposit points across Belgium and the Netherlands (104 of which are in the Netherlands), serves 135+ depositors and works with 89 commercial partners including Akzo Nobel, Sikkens Paint Center, Fire-Off, Dijkstra Plastics, VITO, VLAIO, LRM and Festool Belgium.

The business is positioned to ride tightening EU chemicals regulation — the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, REACH-driven PFAS restrictions and emerging microplastics and biocides rules — that compels industrial and professional coating users to formally treat and certify rinse water streams. CWG couples this regulatory wedge with a wholesale-embedded distribution model (paint wholesalers serve as deposit points) and an early circular-economy off-take chain for recovered raw materials, positioning it as an infrastructure layer for the professional coatings industry's compliance and circularity transition.

Name

Clean Water Global

Legal name

Clean Water Global

Website

https://cleanwaterglobal.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clean Water Global is a Belgium-based, 2022-founded sustainability company that collects, treats, and digitally certifies paint rinse water from professional painters, auto body shops, industrial coaters, and construction firms across Belgium and the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Paint Rinse Water Management

NAICS

Waste Treatment and Disposal (5622), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Remediation Services (562910), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Removal (AFFF/Trace Organics) (EUANADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chemical Tank Cleaning, Decontamination & Turnaround Waste Services (BPALAHAH)

Keywords

• Paint rinse water treatment
• Industrial wastewater collection
• PFAS filtration services
• Coatings waste management
• Circular materials recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Genk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Paint Rinse Water Collection & Processing: Charges €8 per 10 liters for paint rinse water disposal at certified deposit points. Revenue from collection, transport, and treatment of paint rinse water from painters, auto body shops, and industrial facilities.
2. Partner Commission Program: Deposit points earn €0.10 commission per liter of paint rinse water collected. Paint wholesalers and retailers hosting collection units receive recurring commission based on collection volumes.
3. Equipment Rental & Sale: Offers KCA/KGA boxes (250L), deposit tanks (900L with optional cleaning station), jerrycans (50L), drums (200L), and IBC containers (1000L) for purchase or rent. Installation and support included.
4. Tool Cleaning Service: Professional cleaning service for rollers, brushes, and spray guns with pickup and delivery. DIY cleaning stations available at deposit points for €39 per 39L session.
5. On-site Processing Solutions: Modular mobile water treatment units for manufacturers and industrial coaters to process paint rinse water at source, reducing transport emissions and enabling material recovery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Clean Water Global collects, transports, and processes paint rinse water from painters, auto body shops, industrial coaters, and construction sites through a network of deposit points, mobile collection boxes, and 900L tanks. The company applies multi-stage filtration to remove PFAS, microplastics, heavy metals, and biocides, and recovers binders, pigments, and plastic buckets for reuse, issuing digital waste certificates for regulatory compliance.

Product overview

Clean Water Global (CWG) operates a circular waste-management platform for the professional coatings industry, centred on the CWG App and CWG Web Portal. The ecosystem spans five collection hardware tiers — KCA/KGA-box (250 L), Deposit Tank (900 L, with optional cleaning station), Marketing Package for paint retailers, and flexible Jerrycans/Vaten/IBC containers — plus a Cleaning Service for rollers, brushes, and spray guns, and a dedicated Industrial Coaters Service for PFAS-contaminated rinse water from fire-retardant and maritime coatings. All deposits are tracked digitally, with automated certificates and invoicing issued through the app and portal. CWG processes rinse water into clean, PFAS-free water and recovers raw materials (binders, pigments, recycled plastic buckets) through certified treatment facilities in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CWG App Mobile application for painters and professionals to create digital paint rinse water deposits, locate nearby collection points via QR scanning, track accumulated volumes and environmental impact, and receive digital waste certificates and invoices.
• CWG Web Portal Digital customer portal providing real-time tank volume tracking, certified waste disposal records, automated invoicing, and commission overviews for deposit point operators and professional painters.
• KCA/KGA Box 250-litre double-walled, sealed plastic collection container for paint rinse water at paint wholesalers, SME warehouses, or construction sites. Available for rent or purchase with CWG-managed pickup.
• Deposit Tank 900-litre fully sealed, lockable tank for high-volume rinse water collection at auto body shops, lacquer workshops, and industrial coating facilities. Available in standard configuration or with integrated cleaning station. Available for rent or purchase.
• Marketing Package Certified deposit point setup kit for paint retailers, including personalised banner with QR code, 3x customer starter sets (buckets, lids, instructions), client brochures, digital dashboard access, and €0.10 per litre commission. Includes an ambassador programme for ongoing commission on clients who upgrade to direct CWG partnerships.
• Jerrycans, Vaten & IBC Containers Flexible collection containers in three sizes — Jerrycans (50L), Drums/Vaten (200L), and IBC Containers (1,000L) — for paint rinse water pickup. Available for purchase or rental with scheduled CWG pickup.
• Cleaning Service Professional roller, brush, and spray gun cleaning service using certified systems with minimal water. Tools collected, cleaned, and returned within 10 working days with a digital certificate issued. Includes optional pickup and DIY machine option at designated deposit points.
• Industrial Coaters Service Certified rinse water collection and disposal service for fire-retardant coating applicators, maritime and boat coating specialists, and infrastructure protection teams. Handles PFAS-contaminated rinse water from water-based intumescent coatings, with modular on-site collection units and full traceability documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Removes PFAS and microplastics from paint rinse water, producing clean water free from harmful chemicals
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting partner, minor, guardian and hero.

• Akzo Nobelsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal paints and coatings company operating as a Supporting Partner in CWG's ecosystem, contributing to industry-wide sustainability initiatives in the coatings sector.
• Brightlands Chemelot Campussupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation campus in the Netherlands focused on sustainable chemistry, serving as a Supporting Partner for CWG's circular economy initiatives and technology development.
• Fire-Offsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CWG's circular economy loop that recycles plastic paint buckets collected through CWG's system into new buckets, closing the material loop.
• Dijkstra Plasticssupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlastic recycling partner that processes collected paint buckets into new plastic products, enabling full circularity in CWG's waste management system.
• VITOsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish research organization for technology, innovation, and science providing technical expertise and validation for CWG's water treatment technologies.
• VLAIOsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship agency supporting CWG through funding and innovation programs for sustainable business development.
• LRMsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency for Limburg, Belgium supporting CWG's operations and growth in the region.
• Pre-Zerosupporting partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaste management company operating as Supporting Partner in CWG's collection and processing network in the Netherlands.
• Festool BelgiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPower tool manufacturer hosting CWG at industry events like Dag van de Maker to demonstrate correct paint rinse water disposal to professional painters.
• Olijslager GroepguardianChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor paint manufacturer and distributor with Guardian partner status, operating deposit points and promoting CWG services through their extensive dealer network in the Netherlands.
• De Jonge CoatingsguardianChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial coatings company operating multiple deposit points in the Netherlands, serving as Guardian partner with high-volume collection capacity.
• Sikkens Paint CenterheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSikkens paint retail network operating numerous deposit points across the Netherlands, enabling customers to dispose of paint rinse water at paint purchase locations.
• BevelaheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaint retailer with multiple deposit points in the Netherlands including locations in Volendam, Utrecht, Hilversum, Woerden, Amersfoort, Alphen aan den Rijn, Almere, Veenendaal, and Amsterdam areas.
• Mooij VerfheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaint wholesale network operating deposit points in Volendam and Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, collecting over 330kg of purified water.
• De VerfkeizerheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaint retailer in Belgium operating as major deposit point with 20,532kg of purified water collected through CWG services.
• FreshpaintheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaint service company operating deposit point in Harmelen with 4,975kg of purified water collected, demonstrating high-volume collection capability.
• GreenpaintsheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable paint company operating deposit point in Enter with 2,597kg of purified water collected.
• Profi XLheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProfessional paint wholesaler operating deposit point in Eygelshoven with 2,209kg of purified water collected.
• Frans Van Dijk SchilderwerkenheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPainting contractor operating deposit point in Valkenswaard with 1,558kg of purified water collected through CWG services.
• KEES TOL VERF & BEHANGheroChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaint and wallpaper retailer operating deposit point in Volendam, collecting rinse water from professional painters.
• Start It KBCsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian startup accelerator providing support and resources to CWG as an emerging sustainable technology company.
• Klimaatparlementsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Parliament initiative supporting CWG's mission to reduce environmental impact from paint waste in the coatings industry.
• Vlaanderen Circulairsupporting partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlemish circular economy network supporting CWG's initiatives to create circular material flows from paint waste.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Waterleau: Belgian water treatment specialist focused on industrial wastewater and circular economy solutions. Comparable to CWG in treating industrial effluent streams and recovering materials, with deeper exposure to industrial and municipal customers across Europe.
• Cirtec: Belgian industrial water and wastewater treatment specialist offering modular and decentralized treatment systems. Comparable to CWG in deploying modular water treatment for industrial clients, including material recovery and circular economy applications.
• Indaver: Belgian hazardous waste management company operating treatment facilities for industrial chemical waste including PFAS-contaminated streams. Directly comparable to CWG in addressing industrial hazardous waste compliance for Benelux manufacturers, though at much larger scale.
• Newterra: Provider of decentralized, modular water treatment systems for industrial and remote applications. Comparable to CWG's mobile/on-site processing units and modular treatment architecture, though serving broader industrial water markets beyond paints.

Broad incumbents

• Renewi: Major UK/Dutch waste management company with strong Benelux footprint operating collection, processing, and disposal services across industrial and hazardous waste streams. Comparable as a regional incumbent that could compete with or acquire CWG's niche.
• Veolia: Global water and waste management giant operating hazardous waste treatment facilities, industrial water services, and PFAS remediation capabilities across Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent with the resources to replicate CWG's model at scale.
• Solvay: Belgian-headquartered chemical company with PFAS alternatives and specialty water treatment solutions. Comparable as a chemicals industry incumbent with PFAS-related technology and direct interest in coatings industry compliance transitions.
• Pre-Zero: European waste management company (Schwarz Group subsidiary) operating collection and processing services in the Netherlands and Belgium — already a CWG Supporting Partner. Comparable as a large incumbent with the operational capability to internalize CWG's niche.
• Suez: Global water and waste services company with industrial wastewater treatment and circular economy solutions for hazardous industrial streams. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving industrial customers facing PFAS and wastewater compliance requirements.

Regional players

• Aquafin: Belgian wastewater treatment company operating municipal sewage treatment infrastructure across Flanders. Comparable as a regional water treatment player with established permitting relationships, though focused on municipal rather than industrial effluent streams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CWG_eu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cleanwaterglobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/Clean-Water-Global-104901282036347
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clean-water-global
• Instagraminstagram.com/cleanwaterglobal
• TikToktiktok.com/@cleanwaterglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clean Water Global