River Cleanup is a Belgian non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning rivers and preventing plastic pollution. Since its founding in 2019, the organization has expanded to over 100 countries and, together with volunteers, has removed millions of kilos of waste from rivers.
Every year, 11 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans, most of which is carried in by rivers. River Cleanup aims to stop this flow at the source because prevention is better than cleanup. Through a combination of cleanup actions, awareness campaigns, and preventive measures, the organization is working towards a sustainable solution for plastic pollution.
River Cleanup's mission is to make rivers plastic-free worldwide. They do this by:
River Cleanup operates according to the Clean River Model, based on three pillars:
They organize global cleanup events (like in Semoy with The Packraft Trail), educational programs, and innovative projects, such as AI-driven waste detection with drones and the Clean River Model in collaboration with local communities.
Thomas de Groote – founder of River Cleanup
Every donation directly contributes to cleaning up and protecting rivers.
Our mission is to stop plastic before it ends up in nature. With your help, we can make 1000 rivers plastic-free by 2050 and activate people in the fight against plastic pollution!
You can make a one-time or recurring donation, or organize a fundraising event, for example, for your birthday, wedding, or an important sports event. Your contribution enables us to achieve our mission by cleaning rivers, changing behaviors, and accelerating social change.
When you donate to the Butterfly Foundation, you’re investing in a future where responsible travel is the norm. Your donation helps us grow our network and creates even more impact worldwide. Choose how much you want to give through the links below or make a free contribution.