The industry's first "fishing net to fishing net recycling" initiative
November 24, 2022
Maruha Nichiro Corporation today announced that TAIYO A & F CO., LTD. (Tokyo, Japan; hereinafter "TAIYO A&F"), a group company of Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Toray Industries Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Toray") and NITTO SEIMO CO., LTD. (hereinafter "NITTO SEIMO"), will jointly create and collaborate on the industry's first "fishing net to fishing net recycling," aiming to realize a recycling-oriented society and help solve the marine plastic problem.
Toray has developed a nylon yarn that uses some of the offcuts and scraps generated during the production of fishing nets as raw materials, and NITTO SEIMO will manufacture fishing nets using this yarn, which will be introduced on a trial operation on fishing vessels operated by Taiyo A&F, with the aim of establishing a "fishing net to fishing net recycling" system.
1．Course of events
In recent years, the problem of marine plastics pollution has become an environmental issue, and the fishing and aquaculture industries have been testing changes towards environmentally friendly materials and products for fishing nets, ropes, and other fishing gear in Japan and overseas. There are also examples of efforts to recover and recycle fishing nets for use in other applications (e.g., clothing, furniture), but there is still no major precedent for the establishment of a "fishing net to fishing net recycling" system, even worldwide. As a first initiative, a new fishing net made by "fishing net to fishing net recycling," in which process waste generated during fishing net production is recycled and effectively used as part of the raw materials, will be introduced on a trial operation for overseas and offshore purse seine fishing operations.
Traditionally, process waste from fishing net manufacturing has been disposed of as industrial waste, but NITTO SEIMO has expanded its efforts to recycle industrial waste discharged from manufacturing plants by sorting yarn waste and netting waste according to material. Recycled nylon materials are used for molded products, etc. However, it has been difficult to recycle the materials into fishing net yarn itself because of the reduced strength and durability of those recycled materials.
However, Toray's proprietary technology has now succeeded in developing yarn for fishing nets that uses recycled nylon resin as part of its raw materials but has physical properties comparable to those of 100% virgin material. By using this yarn, they have succeeded in the industry's first "fishing net to fishing net recycling" that achieved the same quality as conventional fishing nets, and this innovative fishing net was introduced on a trial operation during Taiyo A&F’s overseas joint venture fishing operation based in the Federated States of Micronesia and domestic fishing operation in Japan.
*A recycling system that produces fishing nets using recycled materials derived from fishing nets as part or all of the raw materials.
2．In the future
(1) Market compatibility and validation of innovative fishing nets created by "fishing net to fishing net recycling" will be verified by examining the results of test operations and reviewing the scope of application, with start of sales scheduled to begin in April 2023.
In addition, TAIYO A&F will continue to study the practical application of expanding the use (scope and proportion) of innovative fishing nets created through "fishing net to fishing net recycling".
(2) Based on feedback from the test operation results, we will explore increased implementation of "fishing net to fishing net recycling". Toray and NITTO SEIMO will continue to co-create and collaborate to develop and manufacture innovative yarn and fishing nets made from pre-consumer materials such as process waste and post-consumer materials such as used products. In the future, the three companies will strive to further deepen the collaboration of "fishing net to fishing net recycling" with new technological innovations and advanced materials.
Overview of test operations by TAIYO A&F
(1) Overseas purse seine fishery, (2) Offshore purse seine fishery
【 Schedule to be implemented 】(1) From October 2022, (2) From January 2023 (tentative)
【 Operating vessel 】(1) Overseas purse seine vessel "Taiyo Waab", (2) Offshore purse seine fleet "Taiyo Maru No. 21
【 Fishing gear used 】Innovative fishing nets made by "fishing net to fishing net recycling" for both (1) and (2) (manufactured by NITTO SEIMO)
【 Operation area 】(1) Western and Central Pacific Ocean, (2) Northern Pacific Ocean
We will make every effort to achieve the goals of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) such as "Goal 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION" and "Goal 14: LIFE BELOW WATER" through the cooperation of the three companies.
Maruha Nichiro Group and Taiyo A&F Comments
In the Maruha Nichiro Group's medium-term management plan "For the ocean, for life MNV 2024" (fiscal 2022-2024), we have set "Contributing to a recycling-oriented society" and "Action for marine pollution by marine plastics" as the materiality for "Environmental Value" in our Sustainability Strategy. In order to contribute to the realization of a recycling-oriented society, we aim to "reduce the ratio of plastic used in containers and packaging by 30% or more by FY2030," and in order for "action for marine pollution by marine plastics," we aim to "establish guidelines for the management of fishing gear and achieve 100% implementation within the Group by FY2024. The entire group, including Taiyo A&F, will promote efforts to create environmental value.
