Water surface pollution from floating waste, microplastics and hydrocarbons is a growing environmental and regulatory challenge, particularly in ports, marinas, and urban waterfronts.
The modular, floating clean-up device actively treats surface water through a dual-stage filtration system:
- Mechanical filtration (polyurethane filter) for solids and microplastics
- Chemical-physical absorption (reusable FoamFlex® sponge) for oils and hydrocarbons
The system:
- Treats up to 35,000 litres of water per hour
- Removes up to 500 kg of waste per year per unit
- Operates 24/7 with low energy consumption (~€1.5/day)
- Uses low-intensity flow, ensuring no harm to marine fauna and plankton
The system is designed to be easily installed on floating or fixed infrastructure and can be repositioned depending on pollution patterns. Beyond pollution removal, the solution can integrate:
- Monitoring and classification of collected waste
- Generation of environmental data for research and reporting
- Contribution to circular economy practices through recycling partners
- Support to sustainability certifications and ESG strategies.
Advantages and innovations:
Integrated solution combining pollution removal, monitoring and impact measurement
Effective capture of microplastics and hydrocarbons at surface level
Low operational cost and maintenance requirements
Continuous operation with minimal environmental disturbance
Modular and scalable deployment across multiple sites
Supports ESG reporting, environmental certification, and corporate sustainability strategies
Enables data generation for scientific and policy use.
Expected role of a partner:
Waterfront real estate and tourism infrastructure operators
Industrial sites located near water bodies
Environmental service providers
Port authorities and marina operators
Municipalities and public administrations
Research centres and universities.
according to the partner(s) interests, they are expected to:
Host and deploy the system
Collaborate on testing, validation, and environmental monitoring
Support integration into local sustainability strategies
Participate in joint projects and funding opportunities (EU/national)