Amu’s circular business model turns fishing nets into premium nylon

Amu Co., Ltd., a company based in Miyagi Prefecture, has launched a new initiative to recycle discarded fishing nets into high-quality nylon materials. This initiative aims to mitigate the environmental impact of abandoned fishing gear (or “ghost gear”), and seeks to create a sustainable circular economy model that benefits both the environment and the fishing communities.

The project centers around a new nylon material brand, amuca, which is produced entirely from recycled fishing nets. Amu Co. officially began selling the first series of amuca last week, offering nylon fabric and pellets made from 100 percent fishing nets collected from Miyagi Prefecture. Using a chemical recycling process, the company has managed to produce nylon that rivals the quality of virgin materials, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including apparel, furniture, and industrial products.

Discarded fishing nets, often referred to as “ghost nets,” pose a severe threat to marine life, entangling and killing countless sea creatures. These nets, which accounts part of 10% of eleven million tons of marine plastic waste, are notoriously difficult to recycle due to the salt, dirt, and other contaminants they accumulate during use. As a result, many of these nets are currently disposed of as industrial waste, often through landfilling, which has a high environmental cost. Additionally, the disposal process places a financial burden on fishermen, who must pay for the nets’ removal.

Amu’s initiative offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges. The company purchases used nets from fishing ports across Japan, then sorts and processes them into new nylon material. This process not only prevents the nets from polluting the ocean but also provides an alternative to landfilling, reducing the environmental footprint of the fishing industry.

Amu roots itself in the principles of the circular economy, emphasizing reducing waste and reusing materials for a closed-loop system. By transforming waste into a valuable resource, the company is turning the tide on marine pollution while also creating economic opportunities for fishing communities.

The amuca brand also tells the story of the fishing communities from which the nets are sourced. Amu is committed to maintaining high traceability for its products, allowing consumers to know where the original nets were used and the type of fishing they supported. This focus on transparency and storytelling adds a layer of cultural significance to Japan’s rich maritime heritage.

Looking ahead, Amu plans to expand its partnerships with manufacturers across various industries, working to integrate amuca into a broad array of products. The company also aims to close the loop on its own production process by developing systems to collect and recycle products made from amuca.