Net gains: saving marine life

Interface Inc., a worldwide designer and manufacturer of carpet tiles and environmental recycling champion with European headquarters in Paris, France, recently joined “Healthy Seas, a Journey from Waste to Wear” program to recover and re-use abandoned fishing nets. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), there are approximately 640,000 tons of abandoned fishing nets in the oceans, accounting for one tenth of all marine waste and deaths or injuries of marine life and birds. Healthy Seas brings together businesses, nongovernmental organizations, divers, fishermen and other stakeholders to recover fishing nets and recycle them into ECONYL® nylon yarns that can be used for carpets and sportswear. Interface also works with the Zoological Society of London and poor coastal communities on Net-Works™, a project to create a community-based supply chain for discarded fishing nets suitable for recycling.