Solving river pollution at scale requires more than local action. It requires proven models, committed partners, and organizations willing to move from intention to implementation.
This ambition defined River Cleanup Impact Event 2026, where nearly 90 partners, executives, international team members, and key supporters gathered to review the past year’s progress and align around the organization’s next phase of growth.
More than an annual gathering, the Impact Event is a strategic moment where the partners helping shape River Cleanup’s future come together to evaluate impact and define what comes next.
A growing organization tackling a global challenge
Opening the evening, founder and CEO Thomas de Groote reflected on River Cleanup’s evolution from a grassroots cleanup movement into an organization delivering scalable, structural solutions to river pollution.
That evolution is visible in the organization’s growth:
The River Warrior community now exceeds 350,000 people worldwide
The professional team has expanded to nearly 55 staff members on 3 continents
New operations have launched in India
Total waste collected since River Cleanup’s founding is approaching 4 million kilograms
These milestones reflect not only scale but increasing organizational maturity as River Cleanup strengthens the expertise required to deliver international implementation.
Demonstrating how the Clean River Model is moving from proof to scale
A central theme of the evening was the continued expansion of the Clean River Model, River Cleanup’s integrated approach combining prevention, community engagement, and data-driven action.
During a panel led by Sabine Joukes, Head of Programs and Operations, River Cleanup’s country leaders shared perspectives from the field, demonstrating how local implementation and global coordination are building a replicable framework.
The message was clear: River Cleanup is not only organizing cleanups. It is implementing a validated model designed to prevent plastic pollution before it reaches rivers and oceans.
With the model now proven in initial action zones, River Cleanup is preparing its next objective: implementing the Clean River Model in 100 rivers by 2030 and 1,000 rivers by 2050.
Partners helping turn ambition into implementation
The Impact Event also reinforced the role partners play not simply as supporters, but as contributors to River Cleanup’s ability to scale.
During the evening, Etienne Bouas-Laurent, CEO of AXA Belgium & Luxembourg, spoke about the importance of partnerships that enable long-term solutions. Thierry Desmedt, Co-CEO of JCDecaux Belgium, and Charlotte Davies, Managing Director of Common Seas, reinforced the importance of collaboration between organizations committed to measurable environmental progress.
Their contributions reflected the level of leadership engagement increasingly surrounding River Cleanup’s work.
The Impact Event also reflected the strength of River Cleanup’s partner ecosystem, including Delhaize, A.S. Adventure, Keytrade Bank, and the NAIAD Foundation, alongside many other organizations helping strengthen River Cleanup’s capacity to move from pilots to implementation.
A year marked by credibility and recognition
Beyond operational growth, the past year also brought important external validation. Our founder, Thomas de Groote, was selected as an Ashoka Fellow! This places River Cleanup within one of the world’s leading networks of social entrepreneurs working on systemic change.
Combined with continued investment in expertise across communications, country programs, and finance, this reflects River Cleanup’s continued development as an organization built for long-term impact.
Preparing the next phase of scale
As the evening progressed, the focus turned toward what comes next.
River Cleanup’s priorities for the coming years include:
Scaling implementation of the Clean River Model internationally
Expanding into additional countries
Further developing River Watchers to strengthen data-driven prevention strategies
These priorities represent the next phase of River Cleanup’s work and a significant opportunity for partners committed to delivering environmental impact at scale.
As Thomas de Groote noted during the evening:
"The question is no longer whether change is possible. The question is how fast proven solutions can scale. What we are building with our partners shows what becomes possible when organizations decide to invest in implementation, not just intention."
Strengthening the partnerships that make progress possible
The evening concluded with closing reflections from River Cleanup leadership, after which partners continued discussions during a walking dinner, reinforcing the relationships that remain essential to the organization’s continued development.
The Impact Event reinforces a simple reality: meaningful environmental progress is built through long-term partnerships between organizations willing to take responsibility for the future of our rivers.
With proven solutions, growing international momentum, and strong partnerships in place, River Cleanup is entering its next phase of scale. The organizations choosing to engage today are helping define what effective river protection will look like tomorrow.
Want to learn more or get involved? Discover the Clean River Model and how you can join as a partner, donor, or volunteer.
Together for clean rivers.
