Aimplas partners to turn discarded fishing nets into new products

Spanish plastics technology centre Aimplas is working with companies UBE and Ziknes, along with the University of Valencia, on the REDES4VALUE project. The aim of the project is to transform abandoned fishing nets into new products and reduce marine pollution through practical industrial solutions.

The shared goal of the collaboration is to close the life cycle of polyamides and limit the environmental impact caused by discarded fishing nets. By focusing on recycling technologies that can be applied at an industrial scale, the project seeks to offer long-term solutions to plastic waste in marine environments.

While many fishing nets are made from polyethylene or polypropylene, the REDES4VALUE project concentrates on nets made from polyamide. This material is well suited for chemical recycling because its molecular structure allows valuable components, such as caprolactam, to be recovered. These recovered materials can then be used to produce new polyamides with properties that are almost identical to virgin plastics.

The recycled polyamides developed through the project are intended for use in sectors such as packaging, agriculture, automotive manufacturing, and 3D printing. UBE is already assessing opportunities for commercial use, while Ziknes is adapting its equipment to test and validate large-format components made from the recycled material.

The REDES4VALUE initiative is funded by the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation, with additional support from the European Regional Development Fund.