everwave

Founded in 2018, everwave is a social enterprise based in Aachen, Germany working on environment & climate, water & sanitation.

everwave is a German social startup and impact organisation based in Aachen that removes plastic and other waste from rivers and waters before it reaches the oceans. Its non-profit arm, the everwave foundation gGmbH, runs cleanup projects and accepts donations. Operations include long-term cleanup sites in Cambodia (Mekong, Phnom Penh, with a zero-waste centre) and Albania (Kukës, Drin and Fierza Lake, with a waste collection boat and zero-waste centre), plus cleanup events in Germany and projects in Thailand and Eastern Europe. Waste is sorted on site into recyclable and non-recyclable fractions, with recyclable material sent for recycling. Collected material is certified under the Ocean Bound Plastic Standard, and the organisation documents collection data transparently. The work is also financed through Plastic Credits, sold to companies, where one credit corresponds to one kilogram of waste collected. The organisation also runs campaigns such as 1like1kilo, NotInOurRivers and Blue Friday, and reports that it creates local jobs with fair wages. Its teams are based in Germany, Cambodia, Thailand and Albania.