One of the major sources of plastic waste in our oceans are old fishing nets. More than 640,000 tonnes of gear used in commercial fishing is dumped into the sea every year.* Old fishing nets make up 10% of all marine litter (source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization). Up to 17% of plastic waste collected from European coasts is old fishing nets. This causes extensive damage to marine life, and it is very important to get the nets recycled instead of ending up in the sea. 

Old fishing nets are collected from professional fishermen in Scandinavia, in other parts of Northern Europe, and in the UK. The material is sorted, cleaned, shredded, and extruded into new raw material pellets. The pellets are then used to produce new products that are durable, sustainable and that will last for years if not decades.

Reusing fishing nets as a raw material has many advantages: it prevents ocean pollution, increases the circular economy, and reduces the amount of waste and reduces carbon dioxide emissions.

* Greenpeace: Ghost gear fishing report 2019