The bubl seed was planted on a cold and grey November day in 2013. Usually, November isn’t the best time to plant a seed, but despite the impending frost, this one took root.

When air pollution suddenly becomes a reality 

Conny, our founder, lives in the Swedish countryside. 

So when he took his six-month old son for a walk next to a busy street on that November day nearly a decade ago, he was struck by the foulness and heaviness of the polluted air.

“I began reading about air pollution, and since I’m a physician, I also became interested in the health effects of air pollution,”

“I was shocked to learn about how widespread the air pollution problem had become. Also, how very little is known about something that affects billions of people all around the world, every day. Why don’t more people talk about this?”

This got Conny thinking

“How can we protect people from this invisible hazard?”

With Swedish innovation systems by his side, Conny began to investigate portable air purifying devices that could protect people in polluted outdoor environments. 

“I started to think about who would use this type of device, why, and who would benefit the most from it. The answer was right there in front of me all along.”

Founders need to seek out people who are open to change; consumers who are – consciously or subconsciously – looking for a solution to their problem. 

And let’s face it: nobody understands the concept of “change” like a new parent. 

When you become a parent, says Conny, you start thinking about the world around you differently. You’re often willing to make changes with your baby’s best interests in mind.

Children are most at risk from the impact of air pollution 

It was clear to Conny that young children would benefit from a solution like bubl most. After all, infants are more vulnerable to air pollution and they aren’t able to protect themselves. 

Did you know that children’s lungs aren’t fully developed until the age of 8?

Other organs, like the brain, don’t develop fully until adulthood. And the earlier you’re exposed to the harmful pollutants that make up air pollution, like microparticles, the more likely you are to experience a range of negative health effects.

Channelling science into something safe and functional

Next came the challenging part: how to create a safe space for a baby when they’re being moved from A to B outdoors. Conny and his product team knew that to control the baby’s environment, they’d need to ‘confine’ an area for clean air. But how?

The initial idea was to create a cover to place over a stroller or pram, creating a physical barrier through which the air inside the pram could be controlled. Concerns arose, however.

“We knew that if we designed bubl as a cover to ‘contain’ the clean air within the pram or stroller, the parent might feel disconnected from their child. There would also be a risk of overheating, and this is why parents are told not to put anything on top of the pram.”

When Conny and his team took their concept to the Swedish Research Institute for testing, they realised that a covering wasn’t even required. 

Owing to the shape and location of the air purifier, they were able to create a bubble of purified air around the infant’s head resulting in a high degree of purification, without the need for encapsulation.

After all the research and development…bubl is born!

“An important factor for us has been to test and show the actual results of our technology. Not what the filter can theoretically do, but what we can actually accomplish,”

 says Conny

bubl has spent the last three years developing, improving and finalising the final product. 

Once the team figured out how to create a clean air capsule for babies, they started to think about how bubl could be used to target air pollution more widely, not just to treat the symptom for the benefit of individuals. 

Despite the fact that 99% of us breathe air that exceeds WHO’s  pollution guideline limits, there’s still a lack of awareness and knowledge about air pollution.

Part of the problem lies in the reporting. 

There are only ~20,000 air quality measuring stations in the world today. In other words, the global air pollution map is low resolution, to say the least. 

“So we’ve also added sensors to bubl, inviting users to help us gather information about ground-level air quality where they live and travel. This is enabling us to build a more detailed picture of the air quality where people actually live their lives.”

Getting the word out

After countless hours of testing and development on both the device itself and the app that records and helps the user understand what pollutants they’re walking through, the bubl team took the creation to GISEC Global in Dubai.

What’s next?

bubl is nearly ready to begin shipping, and we’re looking to engage parents and volunteers in helping us hone our technology to ensure it’s accurate, dependable and useful. So if you’re interested in learning more, we’d love to hear from you.

As an air champion, you’ll receive a device, and we’ll help you set it up and start cleansing the air around your baby. All we’re asking for is your time, and your support in helping us deliver clean air for all.

Are you ready to join our clean air community? Register for more information, or join us as an air champion.