Projects
Stopping waste before it reaches the sea
This is precisely why we work worldwide. Because it is time for us as a society to take responsibility. Whether in the Danube or on the Mekong.
Strategy
Stopping waste before it reaches the sea
With our holistic approach, we prevent plastic waste from entering the sea in the first place – by directly protecting our rivers and waters from pollution.
This is how we work: efficient, sustainable, effective
At everwave, we focus on a holistic strategy to stop plastic pollution at the source and create sustainable cycles. With innovative waste collection boats, smart barriers and mobile sorting systems, we free rivers worldwide from waste before it reaches the sea. But our approach goes further: through zero-waste centers, recycling initiatives and strategic partnerships, we ensure that collected waste is put to good use. Our goal is not just to clean up, but to establish long-term solutions – for a future without plastic pollution.
Detect
We can use artificial intelligence to detect and analyze waste in bodies of water.
Collect
We use waste collection boats, barriers and manual clean-ups to efficiently remove waste from rivers and lakes before it reaches the oceans.
recyCle
The collected waste is sorted and recycled or co-processed. We also create fair jobs and build local infrastructure.
inspire
We raise awareness of the global waste problem through events and public communication.
Innovative technology for clean water
Garbage collection boat
Our waste collection boats are at the heart of our global mission to remove plastic waste directly from the water. They have been specially developed for use on rivers and can collect up to one ton of waste with each trip. With their high efficiency, they get to even hard-to-reach places and remove plastic and other waste before it can enter the oceans.
Sorting container
The sorting container, developed in collaboration with our partner Stadler Anlagenbau, is the first of its kind and a real milestone for our missions. It is easy to transport and is ideal for areas that are difficult to access or the start of new cleanup projects. With just two people, the container can be set up in less than 10 minutes. Its main task is to sort the collected waste on site so that it can then be efficiently processed for recycling. In this way, we can ensure that the waste is not only removed, but also recycled responsibly.
Zero-waste center
Our zero-waste centers in Cambodia, Albania and Thailand are central hubs for efficient waste processing and recycling in the regions in which we operate. These facilities enable us to sort the collected material on site, process it further and reintegrate it into the cycle.
Cooperation with companies
We focus on working with companies because they have a greater reach and the resources needed to drive sustainable change in the environment. Companies have the opportunity to create a measurable impact and both strengthen their business strategy as well as contributing to solving global challenges. By partnering with companies, we can scale innovative solutions and achieve long-term, positive effects for water bodies and the environment.
Why we collect waste in rivers
Rivers are the lifelines of our planet. As a result, they are heavily polluted and become the main transport routes for waste into our oceans. Studies show that around 80% of the plastic waste that ends up in the sea via rivers comes from just 1,656 rivers worldwide.
To protect our oceans more efficiently, our work therefore starts one step earlier – in rivers:
Our waste collection boats are adapted to the operating conditions in rivers. The collected waste can be immediately secured, dried, sorted and thus prepared for the next recycling steps thanks to its proximity to the shore. The proximity to the land is also an advantage, as it facilitates the transportation of waste and general recycling logistics.
Transparent and measurable
Plastic Credits enable us to finance our projects and companies to reduce their ecological footprint and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability. At the same time, they create business opportunities and strengthen the confidence of customers and investors.
1 Plastic Credit at everwave is worth 1 euro and removes 1 kg of waste from the water.
MORE About Plastic Credits
Plastic Credits are transparent proof of genuine environmental protection: each credit represents 1 kilogram of plastic that has been removed from rivers or waters in accordance with the international Ocean Bound Plastic Standard and recycled in the best possible way.
For companies, this means they can demonstrate their contribution to sustainability in a visible, measurable and credible way – with a clear figure, certificate and storytelling potential. Plastic Credits are therefore not abstract compensation, but a direct, verifiable impact. Here you can find more information about Plastic Credits.
Plastic Credits work very simply. One credit is generated for every kilogram of waste we remove from the water – that is, 1 credit equals 1 kg of waste. Companies purchase these credits to support their sustainability goals. We provide transparent reports that document exactly when and where the waste was collected. This allows your company to link Plastic Credits directly to products or services and integrate them into its sustainability strategy. In short: with every Plastic Credit you buy, you help us to make the environment a little cleaner!
We guarantee full transparency: every plastic credit is clearly recorded using our own software solution and can be traced from the point of collection to the point of certificate issue.
- External confirmation: The quantities of material collected are verified by independent weighing certificates.
- Individual traceability: Each credit is given a unique serial number – double counting is impossible.
- Transparent documentation: Our partners receive waste collection certificates with all relevant details (quantity, location, time period, collection method).
This is how we ensure that every credit stands for real, verified and documented waste – traceable and credible.
The Ocean Bound Plastic Standard and the associated certification specifically promote projects that remove plastic waste from the environment. They create a scientifically sound and transparently verifiable basis to ensure that collected waste actually originates from endangered zones.
For everwave this means:
- We can transparently prove how much plastic we have collected and where it comes from.
- This provides our partners with a reliable basis for ESG reporting and a clear distinction from unverifiable models.
- The standard guarantees that our impact is created precisely where pollution of the oceans is a particular threat.
Our project location in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is currently certified to the OBP standard. We are planning certification for Albania in the second half of 2025. In all projects, whether already officially certified or not, we work to the same high standards and already meet the requirements of the OBP standard across the board.
