The NetPlus Material for cleaner Ocean and saving the marine lives

• Posted on 12 November 2020
• By Nanda
• Posted in Netplus, Patagonia, PatagoniaSG, Recycling, sustainability
• 0

In short, NetPlus® is made from 100% recycled discarded fishing nets collected in fishing communities in South America. If you have some time to spend, please continue to read the story behind the Netplus.

What is the problem?

Based on the survey, we produce over 300 million tons of plastic waste every year and 8 million tons of plastics were thrown into the sea. Plastic pollution in the oceans killed more than 650 thousand marine animals or seriously injured every year after being trapped in fishing gear. If we continue to contribute the plastic pollution, in 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea and ocean.  Bureo's Netplus material was born to help reduce that problem. 

What is the solution?

NetPlus material is made entirely from old, frayed, and torn fishing nets collected in fishing communities in Chile and Argentina. Nets are sorted, cleaned, and shredded in Chile, then recycled into NetPlus made from 100% fully traceable postconsumer materials. NetPlus is integrated into supply chains as a responsible alternative to virgin plastics, reducing the dependence on new plastic production. 

Netplus project benefits both fishermen and the ocean by repurposing the old fishnet which will end up in the ocean and kills thousands of marine animals yearly. You might want to ask what if they don't discard the net in the sea. It will end up at the landfill.

For the past years, Patagonia has supported Bureo’s development of NetPlus through Tin Shed Ventures®, Patagonia’s venture capital fund. NetPlus is used in a range of products from Patagonia's hat brims to Costa® sunglasses and Futures® surf fins - even in sustainable Jenga® games.

By turning fishing nets into hat brims, Patagonia has supported the collection and recycling of over 400+ tons of discarded fishing nets to date, which we will continue to incorporate into an expanded list of Patagonia products over the next few years. Although it is a very tiny amount compared to the total number of plastic waste end up in the ocean, we have to start from somewhere. When it comes to saving the planet, numbers don't really matter. All the efforts are counted.

Photo of Patagonia cap brim made of Netplus material.

Where can you buy to support the Netplus project in Singapore?

To support the caps made of Netplus materials, Shop Here  or Visit our Outdoor Life retail shop at FunanSG mall #02-20, City Hall, Singapore