Collaboration to create pen from recycled materials

AKVA group, together with Plasto and Oceanize, will be creating the world's first pen composed of recycled materials, it announced in a press release dated from the 20^th December, 2021. 

"The entire pen will now be composed of recycled materials in a development project that has just been allocated funds from the Norwegian Retailer´s Environment Fund (Handelens Miljøfond). The Norwegian Retailer's Environment Fund supports projects that aim to increase the use of recycled plastic resources," AKVA group said. 

Citing requirements for material quality regulated by a technical standard (NS 9415), primarily new plastic is used in load-bearing structures in the pens. By creating a pen composed of recycled materials, the companies are proving that recycled plastic from discarded aquaculture facilities have the qualities to meet these requirements. 

AKVA group has already utilised recycled plastic in the pen walkways, but the project aims to make it possible to produce the entire pen from these materials. 

Image credit: AKVA group

"The project is a major circular economic milestone," Trude Vareide-Giskås, the Project Manager of Oceanize, said. "Now we get the opportunity to show the qualities of our plastic granulate. At the same time, complete solutions like these are central in a sustainability perspective." 

Oceanize has experience in collecting and recycling plastic discarded in aquaculture, which is well-needed in an industry that generates around 12,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year. By recycling or reusing this waste, it helps to reduce the plastic that is incinerated and produces up to 50 million kilograms of CO².  

Helgeland Plast, a subsidiary of AKVA group, produces the pens in Mo i Rana, Norway, while Oceanize collects pens along the entire Norwegian coast and has a granulation factory in Rørvik, and Plasto produces parts for the pens in Åndalsnes.

"Pens today are not a big litter problem, but there is a great potential for using the plastic in new pens. In this project we will achieve short, national value chains as the project participants are all established in Norway," Trude Olafsen concluded. 

For more information on AKVA group visit their website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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