The time for waiting is over, say these four environmental pioneers. How do they work towards a better world?

‘We encounter many barriers’

Anne Marieke Eveleens (The Great Bubble Barrier)

The ‘Bubble Barrier’ is an innovative air bubble trap that filters plastic out of waterways. When the inventors, including Anne Marieke Eveleens (32), won the international Green Challenge competition in 2018 with the idea, there were only four of them and a number of volunteers. Since then, not only the team but also the social involvement has only grown.

Where did the idea come from?

‘Within the club with which we started this project, there is a common hobby: water sports. One sails, the other rows, and everyone encountered plastic pollution on the banks and on the water. We wanted to solve that. That is worth twice as much, because a large part of the plastic in inland waters eventually ends up in seas and oceans. So you can also tackle that plastic by already collecting it in rivers and canals.’

You came up with a safety net of air bubbles, what should I imagine?

‘The concept is simple: we lay a tube with holes in it at the bottom of a river or canal. Then we pump air through the tube, causing bubbles to shoot up like a curtain and push waste in the water to the surface. We lay that tube, and therefore the bubble screen, at an angle with the flow, so that the waste flows neatly to a collection system. There we can collect and examine the waste. We come across all kinds of waste, from tiny Styrofoam balls to entire TVs.’

Why bubbles?

‘We are going for a system that can remain in place for years. This is possible with the bubble curtain, because we only need a strong tube and air. Furthermore, we mainly focus on large waterways, where boats can also sail. In order to be able to collect plastic in the full width and depth, the system must work without getting in the way of boat traffic. You can with the Bubble Barrier. Finally, the bubbles do not disturb the fish. They just swim through it.’

There is no such thing as a technique without drawbacks; what are you still working on?

‘It takes quite a bit of expertise to lay such a pipe on the river bed in a sustainable way. Unfortunately, not just anyone can apply this technique. In addition, you have to apply for all kinds of permits before you can even start building. That is understandable, because it ensures the quality of the technology, but we encounter more barriers. For example, we notice that there is no budget at all for cleaning water, while there is for clearing actions on land. I do see movement from politics, but it is going slowly.’

Is the world still okay?

‘I’m worried. About plastic, about climate change, but also on a social level: too much is happening for financial gain and not enough for social gain. I find this short-term economic thinking worrying. My coping mechanism? To come in action. At The Great Bubble Barrier we want to solve the plastic problem with our technology, but that alone is not enough. We also conduct research into water pollution. Our team has grown a lot since 2018 and not only with engineers. We now also employ communication experts who work full-time on raising awareness in society. If we reach a lot of people and get them around us, we’ll get there.’

‘This is about more than waste’

Jessie and Nicky Kroon: Zero Waste

The sisters Nicky (31) and Jessie (28) Kroon live virtually without waste. They made this lifestyle their profession: they write books, give lectures and a course through their Zero Waste Academywith tips and workshops.

How did you start this lifestyle?

Jessie: ‘During our studies, we organized lectures about sustainability and climate. As a result, we came across an American zero-waster on social media. She had one jar of non-recyclable waste per year. That triggered something for us, also because it was so practical: everyone says that something has to change, but she just started it herself.’

Nicky: ‘We then tried it out for a month, as a challenge. We just never stopped.’

Where can the most profit be made for people who also want to start doing this?

Nicky: ‘It really depends on your personal interests. The important thing is to start with something that already appeals to you: if you like cooking, think about ways you can do it without waste. Then you will be more comfortable with it and you will notice that it is addictive, that you will also make adjustments in other areas.’

Jessie: ‘It starts with the realization that our society is completely geared towards disposable products. Packaging, bags, cans, clothing, telephones: all made to be thrown away again. You just don’t have to. A zero waste lifestyle is about much more than just waste. It’s about what you do and don’t buy, the choices you make and that you think about the processes behind those products.’

How do you end up with that one weck jar with waste per year?

Nicky: ‘Many groceries, such as fruit and vegetables, can be bought on the market or in organic shops, where you can avoid packaging by bringing your own bags. Then there are all the reusable alternatives to disposable products: glass jars instead of plastic bags, refillable bottles, washable cotton tissues. It’s about consciously handling your stuff.’

Jessie: ‘That preserving jar does give an unrealistic picture. This only concerns non-recyclable waste. We also receive letters from the tax authorities, so we also throw away paper envelopes. So we are on about a linen bag of paper every two months, something like that. The most important thing is the difference you can make yourself.’

What are the reactions from your environment?

Jessie: ‘It was a bit strange at first, also for our partners and friends. But it turned out to be contagious. It’s also just fun to do together, to share your successes and discoveries.’

Nicky: ‘We still get skeptical reactions, for example after lectures. People have a hard time imagining the picture we paint. Then they get on the defensive, because they assume we’ve already made our judgment. That’s not the case, we just want to inspire. You will never hear us say ‘this is not allowed’. We think it’s better, and much more fun, to offer alternatives.’

Will the planet be okay?

Jessie: ‘Haha, that depends on what day you ask. I think we need to realize that the time of waiting is over. You often hear that this is important for future generations, but that time is not even here anymore: we will also notice the consequences of climate change. So if you don’t want to do it for the earth, at least do it for yourself.’

‘Giving up gets us nowhere’

Jerry de Vos: Plastic Scanner

Jerry de Vos (27) developed the Plastic Scanner as a graduation project, a device not much bigger than your telephone. It can distinguish between the main types of plastic, to help with sorting and recycling.

How did you get the idea?

‘During my industrial design studies, I took a gap year, where I helped with the Precious Plastic sustainability project in the Maldives. There I saw an island that was completely used as a garbage dump. I realized: there is still a world to be won here. Recycling plastic is complicated because there are many different types of plastic, all of which you have to sort first. That’s what the Plastic Scanner is for: you hold the sensor up to an object, say a jerry can or an empty bottle of shampoo, and the Scanner tells you what kind of plastic you’re dealing with. Industrial machines already existed that can recognize plastics, but they are expensive and cumbersome, so they cannot be used by recyclers in the field. I developed the Plastic Scanner for them, among others.’

How did you get that industrial technology into such a small device?

‘The identification of plastic is based on infrared light that you shine on a plastic. Each type of plastic reflects that infrared light differently and thus leaves a kind of signature. Commercial scanners create those signatures with expensive filters and sensors. The Plastic Scanner avoids these costs by reversing the method: we do not use one light source and a number of expensive sensors, but a number of specific light sources and one sensor. You can then still identify the plastic, but with fewer of those expensive components.’

Is it really that simple?

‘The trick I just described works really well, but it is an approximation of what the machines in the industry measure with high precision. Those machines can identify all plastics, the Plastic Scanner cannot. But it is also not intended for industrial use. It is for private individuals who want to disassemble the most common plastics with a handy device.’

How does the project proceed now that your prototype is working?

‘In November, the Plastic Scanner won the James Dyson sustainability award. As a result, many people contacted me because they wanted to help and had ideas. That already causes a lot of movement. This price also included a sum of money, which can be used to further improve the design. So far, all the designs can be found online, because I want everyone to be able to use the technology. Now we have the opportunity to turn the Plastic Scanner into a commercial product. That could reduce production costs, allowing more people to use the Scanner. Next year we will develop the Plastic Scanner open, after which I will explore whether the commercial route can also be included.’

Will the planet be okay?

“I think you should always assume that. You can give up, but then you stiffen and I don’t think that has any added value. The other extreme is thinking that nothing is wrong, but I hope that the people who believe that will start to delve more into the science. Then you have the middle ground, where you take the problem seriously and take serious action. I think that’s the most important thing.’