Abandoned fishing nets yield nylon material floating in the ocean
In the pursuit of a cleaner and more sustainable ocean, the Healthy Seas Foundation has been making significant strides since its inception. Originating from a group of fifteen activists from Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands in Pola, the non-profit organisation has grown into a global force, with activities spanning over two hundred locations worldwide.
The foundation's primary mission is to protect marine environments by removing ghost nets (abandoned fishing nets) and marine litter from oceans. A notable collaboration with Aquafil, an Italian textile company, has been instrumental in this endeavour. This partnership sees the recovered nylon from ghost nets being recycled into Econyl®, a regenerated nylon yarn used in the textile industry, particularly for fashion and carpeting.
The collaboration between Healthy Seas and Aquafil forms part of an innovative circular economy model. By transforming ocean waste into high-quality raw material, they are reducing environmental harm and promoting sustainable material use in textiles. This model has influenced broader environmental strategies, encouraging industries to partner in ocean cleanup and sustainable material innovation.
The impact of this partnership is far-reaching. Over the past ten years, Healthy Seas has successfully collected over 900 tons of waste, with half of it being processed by Aquafil. This has led to a significant reduction in ocean plastic pollution, particularly harmful ghost nets that pose a threat to marine life.
Moreover, the collaboration has created a sustainable supply chain for high-demand nylon textiles through Econyl®. Global brands, such as Gucci, Dior, Speedo, Arena, Patagonia, Burberry, and Adidas, have adopted Econyl, promoting circular economy principles by turning waste into valuable industry input.
Education and prevention are also key aspects of Healthy Seas' activities. Through their efforts, they aim to raise global awareness about marine pollution and sustainable fashion. Prevention strategies include promoting sustainable fishing practices among fishermen to reduce the amount of lost and abandoned fishing gear in the ocean.
Recent seabed cleanup actions have expanded beyond the Mediterranean to Northern Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and the California coast. An example of a successful cleanup was the one conducted along the Istrian coast, which involved 350 volunteers. The catch from this cleanup included two fixed nets, one crab trap, a cage, a rusty anchor, piles of unrecognizable net remnants, and three tires.
As Healthy Seas approaches its thousand-ton milestone, it continues to inspire cross-sector efforts to address ocean plastic problems through industry transformation. The foundation's work serves as a testament to what can be achieved when environmental conservation and industrial recycling processes synergise for a common goal: a cleaner, healthier ocean.
- The environmental-science sector has witnessed the implementation of sustainable-living principles, as evident in the collaboration between Healthy Seas Foundation and Home-and-garden industry giant, Aquafil.
- By adopting Econyl®, a regenerated nylon yarn produced from recycled ocean waste, lifestyle brands like Gucci, Dior, and Patagonia are contributing to the environmental-science movement, promoting sustainable-living practices and reducing lifestyle impact on the ocean.
- Encouraged by Healthy Seas Foundation's preventative measures, such as advocating for sustainable-fishing practices, the home-and-garden industry, and fashion world are increasingly becoming aware of their role in climate-change mitigation, striving for a greener, healthier environment.
