Member - everwave

The Aachen-based start-up frees rivers worldwide from trash. Every minute, a truckload of trash ends up in our oceans, posing a threat to humans, animals and the environment. everwave GmbH from Aachen solves this problem and is committed to closing the waste cycle. The company's approach is based on four pillars: detect – collect – recycle - inspire. Their worldwide cleanups take place with the innovative river platform HiveX and the efficient waste collection boat CollectiX. Both technologies prevent waste from entering the oceans. HiveX acts passively and can be lowered into rivers in a stationary position to collect any floating trash. CollectiX is actively responsible for the large, accumulated garbage ponds. The technologies are complemented by artificial intelligence, which analyzes trash scanned by drones and sensors to determine its exact composition. In doing so, everwave can draw on a broad network of partners and experts in the fields of science, industry, and the public. A research team is working to ensure that trash is recycled after collection through environmentally friendly processes. In each country of operation, efforts are made with local recycling companies to sort, wash and shred the collected material, then return it to the cycle. In addition, the company is supported by the everwave foundation gGmbH. This raises public awareness of the plastic challenge and develops valuable materials for environmental education in schools. Lectures also help to inspire society ecologically. The startup's challenge: the more rivers everwave clears of trash, the higher the costs become. everwave was therefore one of the first companies to introduce the concept of "plastic credits." Here, everwave collects waste from rivers on behalf of companies. Similar to the principle of C02 compensation, companies can thus compensate for a certain amount of waste. For each euro, everwave retrieves one kilogram of waste, uses artificial intelligence to evaluate it, and further develops local recycling structures. This is an opportunity not only for everwave. So far, everwave has already collected 260 tons of waste from rivers in 12 locations in 7 countries, such as Romania, Italy, Serbia or Cambodia, and further countries of operation are already being planned. The goal: to initiate a holistic change.