Used plastics resurrected: traced pots crafted from recycled fishing nets

A Scottish startup named POTR is making waves in the fight against marine plastic waste, transforming discarded fishing gear into beautiful, origami-inspired plant pots. The company's innovative approach to upcycling marine debris is not only aesthetically pleasing but also contributes to a larger effort to address the issue of discarded fishing gear.

POTR was founded by Andrew Flynn, a lecturer at The Glasgow School of Art, who was inspired to act after witnessing the detritus on Scotland's west coast. The startup has established a UK supply chain, with fishing nets recovered and shredded by Waterhaul, a marine waste specialist based in Cornwall.

Waterhaul co-founder Harry Dennis stated that ghost gear - discarded fishing gear that continues to fish and entangle marine life - is the most damaging form of plastic in the sea. He emphasized that the ocean pots created by POTR are not only something people want in their homes but also reinforce the desire of consumers for products made from reclaimed marine plastic.

Each ocean pot is part of a larger effort to address the issue of discarded fishing gear. One tonne of recovered plastic yields 5,000 ocean pots, demonstrating the scale of the impact POTR is making. The origami-inspired design of the ocean pots allows them to be flatpacked for shipping, reducing transport costs by 100 times.

POTR's ocean pots are made from traceable marine plastic, with each pot carrying a scannable QR code linking to recovery data. The reclaimed plastic is pelletized, pressed into sheets, and die-cut in Edinburgh to create the ocean pots.

Approximately 6,000 tonnes of plastic waste are generated each year by the fishing and aquaculture industry in Scotland and England, with much of it ending up in the sea or on shorelines. By working with POTR, we can turn discarded marine plastic into useful, beautiful products, as highlighted by Harry Dennis.

However, it is important to note that the quote from Harry Dennis does not provide new information about the amount of plastic waste generated by the fishing and aquaculture industry or the number of ocean pots produced from one tonne of recovered plastic. Furthermore, the quote does not contain any advertisements or new facts about POTR's operations or impact.

POTR donates 4% of its profits to cleanup efforts, further demonstrating its commitment to addressing the issue of marine plastic waste. The beauty and utility of the ocean pots created by POTR underscore the transformation of discarded fishing gear into valuable products, offering a glimmer of hope in the fight against marine plastic pollution.