Home / Environment / Ghost Gear Transformed: From Ocean Hazard to Carpet
Ghost Gear Transformed: From Ocean Hazard to Carpet
8 Sep
Summary
- Old fishing nets are now recycled into carpet yarn, cleaning oceans.
- The Net Works program benefits over 2,000 households in the Philippines.
- This initiative supports marine conservation and provides sustainable income.
Coastal communities in the central Philippines have long balanced fishing and seaweed farming, facing economic uncertainties with fluctuating catches and global demand. This precarious situation inspired marine researcher Nick Hill's work, leading to a unique solution for ocean conservation.
Old nylon fishing nets, which pollute the seas for centuries, are now being repurposed. In 2011, a partnership between Interface, Aquafil, and a community banking system launched the Net Works program. This initiative transforms discarded nets into ECONYL yarn, a key component in carpet manufacturing.
Through Net Works, villagers collect, clean, and bale old nets, converting a marine hazard into a valuable commodity. The program has recycled approximately 270 million meters of fishing net across 32 villages. This effort not only cleans the environment but also enhances local marine protected areas.
The successful model, originally tested in the Philippines, has since expanded to Cameroon and Indonesia. It has evolved into an independent social enterprise called Coast4C, now protecting over 5,700 hectares of ocean and managing 86 community banks supporting over 2,000 households. This initiative serves as a financial model for reef protection, moving beyond traditional grant dependency.
