Recycling
At Healthy Seas, our journey from waste to wear showcases how, with the support of our partners, collected fishing nets suitable for recycling are transformed into new products, keeping them in the material flow . Through collaboration, we ensure that these recovered nets are given a new life. Our partners play a crucial role in this process. Companies like Bracenet create accessories directly from our fishing nets
, while others, like our founding partner Aquafil, recycle the suitable nets along with other discarded nylon to produce new, high-quality nylon . By utilising waste instead of new resources, our partners help us achieve a dual goal: cleaning the seas of marine litter and ghost nets and reducing the extraction of new resources from the Earth.
What we do With Our Partners
From Nylon Waste to New Products with Aquafil
Aquafil is a synthetic fibre manufacturer with headquarters in Italy and production and recycling plants in many countries worldwide. In 2013, Aquafil co-founded Healthy Seas, so it is one of the three founding members and also a key player in the value chain of Healthy Seas.
Nylon fishing nets recovered by Healthy Seas and suitable for recycling enter the ECONYL® Regeneration System with other nylon waste, such as fishing nets from the aquaculture and fishing industry, carpet flooring and industrial plastic.
This innovative process by Aquafil transforms nylon waste into first-grade nylon. The ECONYL® Regenerated nylon yarn has the same quality as fossil-based nylon and is infinitely recyclable.
Nylon fishing nets recovered by Healthy Seas and suitable for recycling enter the ECONYL® Regeneration System with other nylon waste, such as fishing nets from the aquaculture and fishing industry, carpet flooring and industrial plastic.
This innovative process by Aquafil transforms nylon waste into first-grade nylon. The ECONYL® Regenerated nylon yarn has the same quality as fossil-based nylon and is infinitely recyclable.
From Nets to Accessories with Bracenet
Bracenet is a company based in Hamburg, Germany that creates sustainable bracelets upcycling old fishing nets recovered by Healthy Seas.
Their bracelets are much more than fashionable accessories: they are a statement promoting the protection of the world's oceans.
They have been a partner of Healthy Seas for eight years.
Their bracelets are much more than fashionable accessories: they are a statement promoting the protection of the world's oceans.
They have been a partner of Healthy Seas for eight years.
Collaboration with local recyclers
Beyond our significant recycling efforts with partners, we collaborate with local recyclers to process the rest of the collected marine litter that our partners cannot recycle.
These partnerships ensure adherence to local regulations and market opportunities, with recyclers providing certification for the materials processed, thus enhancing our transparency and efficiency in recycling.
One latest example was in Greece, during our large clean-up of an abandoned fish farm in Patras and Ithaca.
These partnerships ensure adherence to local regulations and market opportunities, with recyclers providing certification for the materials processed, thus enhancing our transparency and efficiency in recycling.
One latest example was in Greece, during our large clean-up of an abandoned fish farm in Patras and Ithaca.
Nets for Art and Awareness Raising Events
Fishing nets and other marine litter can be transformed into impactful displays, exhibitions, and educational programs.
Students from fashion and design schools and artists are encouraged to use these materials to create striking objects that not only showcase the potential of reclaimed nets but also raise awareness about marine litter.
These creative projects act as powerful conversation starters, helping the public understand the impacts of marine debris and the importance of our actions in addressing this global issue.
Students from fashion and design schools and artists are encouraged to use these materials to create striking objects that not only showcase the potential of reclaimed nets but also raise awareness about marine litter.
These creative projects act as powerful conversation starters, helping the public understand the impacts of marine debris and the importance of our actions in addressing this global issue.
Back to the local fishing communities
The fishing nets specific partners cannot recycle; they are either recycled locally or repurposed by fishermen. Some nets in good condition are reused directly, while others are employed as cushioning to protect new nets from entanglement on the seabed, serving as dolly ropes.
Materials that cannot be reused are processed into waste-to-energy through incineration, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
Materials that cannot be reused are processed into waste-to-energy through incineration, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
Sustainability is not a goal to be reached but a way of thinking, a way of being, a principle we must be guided by.
Giulio Bonazzi, CEO of Aquafil
Recent Recycling Updates
Innovating for a Sustainable Future: Diopas Leads the Way in Net Production and Recycling
10 October 2024
Empowering Future Changemakers: Another Milestone Year for Circular Economy Education in Slovenia
3 July 2024
Healthy Seas Foundation Announces Strategic Partnership with Ghost Diving Portugal and Ambibérica to Tackle Marine Pollution in Portugal
14 February 2024
Celebrating a Decade of Healthy Seas: 2023 Highlights and 10 Years of Marine Protection
25 January 2024
Designing for Circularity: 6 Precious Lessons from the Hyundai Re:Style Event
30 October 2023