Explore Our FAQs
Here, you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about Healthy Seas' operations and initiatives. For inquiries on broader topics related to marine conservation, ocean science, and circular economy solutions,
we encourage you to visit our Knowledge section. Dive deeper into these subjects to expand your understanding and learn more about our mission to protect and restore our oceans.
In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans.
Kahlil Gibran
- What makes Healthy Seas unique?
There are several important initiatives to clean up and safeguard the seas. Healthy Seas is special for various reasons: it is a joint venture of non-governmental organisations and businesses to clean the oceans and seas. The nets that are collected by Healthy Seas are not dumped into landfills or burned in waste processing facilities. Instead, they are recycled in order to create high-quality products. Sustainability is the focus, from both the environmental and economic point of view. Healthy Seas brings many stakeholders and initiatives together: divers, fishers, shipping companies, NGOs, governments as well as recycling and production companies, creating new products such as socks, swimwear and carpets and more. - What do you do with the recovered fishing nets?
After the transport, sorting and cleaning of the nets, the nylon parts suitable for recycling are sent to Aquafil’s factory in Slovenia to enter into the ECONYL® regeneration system while other types of plastic nets are given to others for recycling, for example Bracenet, a company that uses other type of fishing nets (polyethylene, polypropylene). The rest of the materials could be reused (by fishermen or for displays, exhibitions, school programmes) or are becoming waste-to-energy (through incineration). - How is the recycling done?
The cleaned fishing nets are delivered to a plant in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where they are prepared for the ECONYL® Regeneration System. The recycling in Slovenia is an innovative process to regenerate waste such as fishing nets and make nylon yarn. The regenerated nylon is called ECONYL® yarn and has the same qualities as virgin nylon from fossil raw material. ECONYL® is a trademark of Aquafil, a company based in Arco, Italy. - What products are made from ECONYL® yarn?
Many products can be made with ECONYL® yarn: swimwear, socks, underwear, high-tech clothing and sportswear. Also, you can find textile floorings made with ECONYL® yarn at different suppliers in both Europe and the USA. - Do recycled nylon yarn textiles shed more microfibres when washed than virgin nylon yarn textiles?
The only difference between recycled ECONYL® yarn and regular nylon yarn is its origin, the fact that it is 100% regenerated from waste. There are no other differences in performance or quality. All fibres lose tiny particles when they are washed. We are fully aware of this problem and follow the latest research on this issue. Our partners carefully monitor all the materials that they incorporate into their products and use in their production processes. Also, it is worth mentioning that fishing nets ultimately lead to microplastic debris if they are left in the water for a long time, so it is better for the environment to recover them and regenerate them into new yarn. - I would like to order nets for a project/product
Healthy Seas is not a company but an environmental organisation. We are not involved in recycling or product development; our partners are doing that. All nets we collect enter the ECONYL® Regeneration System (www.econyl.com) or will become Bracenets or will be used during events or will become waste-to-energy through incinerations. If you are interested to use ECONYL® regenerated nylon yarn, we suggest that you contact the manufacturer Aquafil at info@econyl.com - Why focus on waste fishing nets?
Waste fishing nets are often found on shipwrecks which form breeding places for sea life, especially in areas where there is intensive human activity, such as fisheries. The localized nature of nets creates ecological problems for ecosystems and species but allows focused recovery actions. The killing of marine animals by waste fishing nets illustrates to the wider public very well the problem caused by marine litter.