Plastic Fischer
Plastic Fischer is a Cologne-based social enterprise that deploys proprietary TrashBoom floating barriers in rivers across India and Indonesia to intercept plastic before it reaches the oceans, selling corporate partnerships, impact credits, and branded sponsorships to 100+ B2B customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersCologne, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plastic Fischer does
Plastic Fischer GmbH is a Cologne-based social enterprise founded in November 2018 by Karsten Hirsch, Georg Baunach, and Moritz, positioning itself as the first company globally dedicated to intercepting river-bound plastic before it reaches the oceans. Its core technology is the TrashBoom family — modular, self-aligning, passive floating barriers deployed across rivers in India and Indonesia that trap plastic while allowing marine life to pass underneath; a Walkable TrashBoom variant adds bridge functionality for high-flow or hard-to-access sites, and proprietary Lifting Mechanisms remove collected volumes without rented heavy equipment. All designs are governed by the company-registered 3L Initiative (Low-Tech, Local, Low-Cost) methodology and are recognized by the World Economic Forum.
The company operates eight project sites across India (Trivandrum, Bangalore, Varanasi, Kanpur, Mangalore, Mumbai-Thane Creek, Vadodara) and Indonesia (Bandung on the Citarum river), employing 90+ local full-time staff and having collected roughly 1,200 tons of river plastic by end-2023 (approximately 2 million kg prevented from oceans since 2021). Operations are supported by Material Recovery Facilities for drying, sorting, and baling.
Revenue is generated through a diversified B2B partnership stack: multi-year corporate partnerships starting at €3,000/year with verified impact reporting; Plastic Fischer Credits at €10 per certificate representing 1kg of plastic removed (analogous to carbon credits); branded TrashBoom sponsorships; employee engagement and volunteering programs; and Impact-per-Sale transaction-linked offerings for e-commerce customers. The company is trusted by 100+ organizations across insurance (Allianz), shipping decarbonization (Everllence), chemicals (Covestro), manufacturing (KNIPEX), hospitality (25hours), sustainable goods (GOT BAG), tourism (Papaya Tours), nonprofit/NGO (Sea Shepherd), and climate-fund (Amazon Climate Fund) segments, with global sales handled through a direct enterprise field-sales motion supplemented by visibility at forums such as Davos and the UN Water Conference.
Plastic Fischer firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastic Fischer
- Legal name
- Plastic Fischer GmbH
- Website
- https://plasticfischer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Plastic Fischer is a Cologne-based social enterprise that deploys proprietary TrashBoom floating barriers in rivers across India and Indonesia to intercept plastic before it reaches the oceans, selling corporate partnerships, impact credits, and branded sponsorships to 100+ B2B customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastic Fischer industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services - River Plastic Cleanup
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM), Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF), Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems) (IMALAMAL)
Keywords
Where Plastic Fischer is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cologne
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Plastic Fischer business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnerships: Multi-year contracts with corporations for river plastic collection projects. Partnerships include quarterly impact reports with verified data, ready-to-use content for communications, employee engagement opportunities, and assets for ESG reporting, HR recruitment, and marketing. Corporate partnerships start at €3,000.
- Plastic Fischer Credits: Credits representing 1 ton of plastic collected and processed in line with international best practices. Analogous to Carbon Credits but focused on direct action. Certificates start at €10.
- TrashBoom Sponsorship: High-visibility branded partnership opportunities for companies to sponsor the signature TrashBoom solution with verified data, powerful storytelling, and clear brand connection.
- Employee Engagement Programs: Hands-on volunteering, team learning experiences and educational workshops for corporate partners. Scale impact across departments.
- Impact per Sale: Link product or service to measurable environmental action where customers fund plastic recovery with each purchase, tracked and verified.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Partnership - starting tier |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plastic Fischer Credits - certificates |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Plastic Fischer product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastic Fischer deploys proprietary TrashBoom floating barrier systems in rivers across India and Indonesia to intercept plastic waste before it reaches the ocean. The company offers corporate partnerships (multi-year engagements starting at €3,000), Plastic Fischer Credits (certificates representing 1 kg of verified plastic removal starting at €10), branded TrashBoom sponsorships, impact-per-sale programs, employee engagement workshops, and Material Recovery Facility processing. All operations follow the proprietary 3L Initiative methodology combining Low-Tech, Local, and Low-Cost principles.
Product overview
Plastic Fischer is an environmental impact company offering a portfolio of proprietary river cleanup technologies and corporate partnership solutions. The core product portfolio includes the TrashBoom family (Regular and Walkable variants) and Lifting Mechanisms for intercepting plastic in rivers, all based on the 3L Initiative™ methodology (Low-Tech, Local, Low-Cost). On the partnership side, they offer branded sponsorships (Adopt a TrashBoom), transaction-linked impact (Impact per Sale), employee engagement programs, custom activations, and exclusive city projects. They also issue Plastic Fischer Credits representing verified plastic removal. Operations span India and Indonesia with eight project locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Plastic Fischer Credits: Inspired by Carbon Credits, represents 1 ton of plastic collected and processed in line with international best practices. Created in 2019/2020 when founders realized most collected plastic couldn't be recycled and had no value.
- 3L Initiative
- TrashBoom
- Walkable TrashBoom
Products and services
- TrashBoom (Regular) Self-aligning, modular, floating barrier system that stops river plastic while allowing marine life to swim underneath. Staff manually retrieve accumulated plastic from the passive collection system.
- Walkable TrashBoom Swimming barrier with integrated bridge designed for hard-to-access locations such as steep stormwater drains or high-flow water bodies. Allows staff to collect plastic and perform initial drying and sorting directly on the system.
- Lifting Mechanisms Proprietary crane system designed to remove large volumes of collected river plastic within short timeframes, eliminating the need to rent excavators or heavy equipment.
- Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Sorting facilities where collected river plastic is dried, sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable categories, baled, and processed according to international standards including Ocean Bound Plastic certification.
- Plastic Fischer Credits Credits representing 1 kg or 1 ton of plastic collected and processed following international best practices. Analogous to carbon credits but focused on direct river plastic removal. Certificates start at €10 and can be purchased directly online for any amount.
- Adopt a TrashBoom High-visibility branded partnership opportunity for companies to sponsor the signature TrashBoom solution with verified data, storytelling assets, and clear brand-to-impact connection.
- Impact per Sale Program linking a brand's product or service sales to measurable environmental action; each customer purchase funds tracked and verified plastic recovery.
- Tailored Employee Engagement Workplace sustainability programs for corporate partners including hands-on volunteering, team learning experiences, and educational workshops delivered alongside field operations.
- Custom Activation Co-created campaigns and pilots tailored to brand goals, including pop-up cleanups, internal challenges, and seasonal impact campaigns.
- Exclusive Projects Tailored long-term initiatives designed around brand CSR strategy or community engagement vision, combining local action with verifiable impact results.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 2 million kg of plastic prevented from entering oceans since 2021
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastic Fischer
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Plastic Fischer technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Plastic Fischer partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Everllence SE (formerly MAN Energy Solutions)coreCommitted to partnering in Vadodara and Bangalore to stop hundreds of tons of plastic and create dozens of local jobs. Partnership supports Everllence's decarbonization and ship propulsion solutions with environmental impact.
- Amazon Climate FundcoreFunding Mumbai project in Thane Creek protecting one of world's most important habitats for Flamingos. Multi-year project part of Amazon's climate commitments.
- AllianzcoreMulti-year flagship project in Trivandrum, India. Plastic Fischer exceeded the ambitious KPIs set in 2022, leading to contract extension with aim to collect more than a million kg of River Plastic in Trivandrum alone. Provides stable employment and regular income to local people.
- KNIPEXcoreFirst corporate partner won through Circular Valley Network. Deployed TrashBooms in Bangalore and Varanasi. KNIPEX values transparency and clear communication, avoiding greenwashing accusations.
- GOT BAGminorSustainable bag company. Joint TrashBoom project with collaborative social media content that performed exceptionally well.
- 25hours hotelsminorHospitality brand partnership supporting clean oceans and social projects in Indonesia. Values bold, honest storytelling.
- Covestro IndiacorePartnership combining river plastic collection with volunteering events and education for local communities and students. Supports Covestro's Circularity vision.
- Papaya ToursminorTourism company turning traveler contributions into measurable removal of plastic from rivers. 20+ years supporting sustainability projects.
- Indonesian ArmycoreSupported development of TrashBoom technology while working on Citarum river. Critical partnership for initial technology development.
- Circular Valley NetworkcoreNetwork through which first corporate partner KNIPEX was won. Key channel for business development.
- Sea ShepherdminorOcean conservation organization supporting river cleanup efforts. Values the approach of cleaning rivers before plastic reaches ocean.
- FortominorLogistics company that integrated Plastic Fischer into their supply chain, offering proactive plastic prevention as a sustainability service.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Plastic Fischer competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 4ocean: Consumer-branded ocean cleanup company that sells plastic-removal products and subscriptions, employing cleanup crews in multiple countries. Overlaps with Plastic Fischer on river/ocean plastic removal mission but with a more consumer-facing, product-driven model.
- Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that exchanges plastic for digital credits in coastal communities, focusing on collection and reintegration into recycling supply chains. Comparable mission but different model (recycling-market-based vs. river interception) and competes for the same corporate ESG budgets.
- Parley for the Oceans: Ocean-conservation network and material-innovation company partnering with major brands (Adidas, etc.) on ocean plastic. Competes for the same corporate sustainability budgets and is a known player in the marine plastic ecosystem.
Others
- Sea Shepherd: Marine conservation organization that has partnered with Plastic Fischer on river cleanup support. Mission-aligned but primarily an advocacy/operations NGO rather than a direct competitor for corporate plastic-removal contracts.
Emerging players
- Tide Ocean SA: Producer of recycled ocean-bound plastic raw materials used in consumer products. Adjacent in the marine plastic value chain and competes for corporate partnerships that fund ocean plastic recovery, though its model is downstream recycling rather than collection.
- Mr. Trash Wheel: Baltimore Harbor-based waterwheel trash interceptor, part of the broader family of waterway plastic-collection devices. Comparable in mission and approach (passive waterway plastic collection) but operates in a single U.S. location and on a different scale.
Direct peers
- The Ocean Cleanup: Largest and most-funded ocean/river plastic cleanup organization, operating floating barrier systems in rivers and oceans globally. Direct competitor for corporate plastic-removal partnerships and the most visible player in the same mission space.
- Sungai Watch: Indonesia-based river cleanup organization that adopted TrashBoom-style floating barriers, explicitly modeled on Plastic Fischer's approach. Competes in the same Indonesian river corridors for partner funding and attention.
- Seven Clean Seas: Singapore-based ocean plastic removal organization that has also adopted river-cleanup barrier technology following Plastic Fischer's invention. Competes for corporate plastic-offset credits and removal partnerships across Southeast Asia.
- CleanHub: Plastic-recovery platform that partners with coastal cleanup organizations and sells plastic-removal credits to consumer brands. Direct competitor in the plastic-credit sales channel that Plastic Fischer is also pursuing via Plastic Fischer Credits.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plastic Fischer social profiles
Digital presencePlastic Fischer compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Plastic Fischer financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastic Fischer leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Plastic Fischer funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastic Fischer 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 Plastic Fischer
What does Plastic Fischer do?
Plastic Fischer deploys proprietary TrashBoom floating barrier systems in rivers across India and Indonesia to intercept plastic waste before it reaches the ocean. The company offers corporate partnerships (multi-year engagements starting at €3,000), Plastic Fischer Credits (certificates representing 1 kg of verified plastic removal starting at €10), branded TrashBoom sponsorships, impact-per-sale programs, employee engagement workshops, and Material Recovery Facility processing. All operations follow the proprietary 3L Initiative methodology combining Low-Tech, Local, and Low-Cost principles.
Is Plastic Fischer a public or private company?
Plastic Fischer is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Plastic Fischer founded?
Plastic Fischer was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Plastic Fischer based?
Plastic Fischer is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Plastic Fischer make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Corporate Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are plastic Fischer Credits, trashBoom Sponsorship, employee Engagement Programs and impact per Sale.
Who are Plastic Fischer's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 4ocean, Plastic Bank and Parley for the Oceans. Sea Shepherd is listed as an others. Emerging players are Tide Ocean SA and Mr. Trash Wheel. Direct peers are The Ocean Cleanup, Sungai Watch, Seven Clean Seas and CleanHub.
Does Plastic Fischer have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastic Fischer.
What industry is Plastic Fischer in?
Plastic Fischer's product category is Environmental Services - River Plastic Cleanup. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAKAA, Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply), with a secondary code of EUAIAKAM, Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion). Its NAICS code is 56292 and its SIC code is 4953.