The Great Bubble Barrier

Thanks to the intricate man made waterways, Amsterdam is able to sit below sea level and still thrive as a community. The Dutch have a very special relationship with water that not a lot of us can ever truly relate to, which makes conservation extremely important to them. Nearly two thirds of plastic in the ocean comes from rivers and canals, so with the threat of careless tourists and wasteful habits it is not surprising that the canals of Amsterdam are littered with rubbish.

Three women are working hard to change this all with bubbles. Their invention can be easily replicated, cheap to maintain, and most importantly it not only is safe for the environment but it works with it to create a simple yet effective solution.

There is a tube placed diagonally at the bottom of the waterway that uses natural ways to pull air into the tubes in order to blow bubbles to the surface. As trash flows towards the oceans the bubbles create a barrier that forces the objects to the surface and the diagonal direction works with the current to lead them to be collected at the water’s edge.

This solution truly embodies everything that dutch design is about. It isn’t overly complicated or fancy, it just uses an obvious approach to a complex issue. I find it interesting that they were capable of creating a blockade that doesn’t have a negative effect on the sea life or boats that depend on making it up and down the canals and rivers.

As forward thinking as this invention was, I wouldn’t consider it a solution as much as it is a last resort. If this project could be as simple and cost effective as it is then there must be something we can do to ensure that the plastic never even reaches the waterways. Regardless I am excited to see the difference this will make all over the world and what this one basic innovation will lead to.