How one company is recycling marine plastics

Based in Cornwall, Fishy Filaments started with a Crowdfunding campaign with the aim to make the UK fishery more sustainable and take used fishing nets to transform them into 3D printer filament. The raw materials can normally be acquired at zero cost where fishers currently have to dispose of the nets, and there is potential for international expansion.

The aim is to provide a win-win solution to fishing communities by taking end-of-life fishing gear and some of the plastics caught during normal fishing activities, then transforming them into commercially viable products that have the potential for a multitude of uses.

Our first product will be a recycled nylon filament for use in 3D printing. Unlike established nylon recycling routes our solution uses simple mechanical and thermal processes that can be achieved at a local scale and with no harsh chemicals added. Our next project is to complete on-going R&D on recycling larger trawl nets made of polyethylene and polypropylene.

What a great idea!!

For more information see the Fishy Filament website