

We’re fighting the ocean plastic problem
Ocean plastic waste is one of the planet’s biggest crises, and it’s getting worse. If nothing changes, ocean plastic pollution is projected to quadruple by 2050. Most of this plastic does not start at sea, but actually comes from land via our rivers. Once the plastic reaches the ocean, it’s extremely difficult to do anything about it. It spreads through marine ecosystems, breaks down into microplastics, and contaminates food chains in ways that are incredibly hard to reverse.
The mission
In India, the issue has reached a breaking point. In Mumbai the lack of reliable waste management in areas of the city means plastic often ends up in storm drains and waterways, then flows straight into the ocean. That pollution isn’t just damaging local mangrove forests and flamingo habitats. It keeps moving, impacting wider coastal and marine ecosystems. That’s why we went to Mumbai to partner with Plastic Fischer, an organization that has spent years developing a low-cost, scalable solutions that tackles the plastic crisis where it starts, in rivers.



Their approach uses TrashBooms, floating barriers that are placed in some of Mumbai’s most polluted storm drains, intercepting plastic before it can reach the ocean. Through their work Plastic Fischer has already prevented 2.5 million kilograms of plastic from entering the ocean. With the support of the Planet Wild community, we’re helping expand that impact. We’re supporting the installation and operation of a new TrashBoom in Mumbai, funding a major clean-up to remove built-up waste, and upgrading and expanding Plastic Fischer’s purpose-built sorting and processing facility. Together, we’re stopping hundreds of tonnes of plastic before it reaches the sea and are protecting Mumbai’s habitats and the marine ecosystems beyond.
What we achieved
Ideal outcome
Our Partner
Karsten Hirsch is the co-founder and CEO of Plastic Fischer, a social enterprise that prevents plastic from entering the ocean by intercepting waste in rivers. After studying law in Cologne, he shifted his career path following a life-changing trip to Vietnam, where he witnessed severe river pollution firsthand. In 2019, he and his co-founders began work on the low-cost, low-tech “TrashBoom” system. Plastic Fischer have now installed more than 65 TrashBooms across 8 cities in Asia, removing millions of kilograms of river plastic while creating local jobs. Karsten advocates for transparent, scalable environmental solutions and openly shares the company’s technology so others can replicate their model.
Our Partner

Karsten Hirsch is the co-founder and CEO of Plastic Fischer, a social enterprise that prevents plastic from entering the ocean by intercepting waste in rivers. After studying law in Cologne, he shifted his career path following a life-changing trip to Vietnam, where he witnessed severe river pollution firsthand. In 2019, he and his co-founders began work on the low-cost, low-tech “TrashBoom” system. Plastic Fischer have now installed more than 65 TrashBooms across 8 cities in Asia, removing millions of kilograms of river plastic while creating local jobs. Karsten advocates for transparent, scalable environmental solutions and openly shares the company’s technology so others can replicate their model.
