Schneider Electric is using recycled fishing nets to create switches and sockets for the home, effectively giving the materials a second purpose without them needing to pile up as ocean garbage. Sustainability is a pretty big focus of Schneider Electric, so this innovation comes as no surprise.
Fishing nets are typically made out of synthetic fibres like nylon or braided polymer. These materials are quite durable, which make them both perfect for fishing and also not so great if left in the ocean. In fact, abandoned fishing equipment makes up about 10 per cent of plastic waste in the ocean, weighing in at several hundred thousand tonnes. That’s where Schneider Electric reckons it can do something and power upcycling.
Schneider Electric’s sustainable sockets and switches are made from polyamide fishing nets, found in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The company says it’s a step in the right direction for creating a world where there isn’t any recyclable material and for empowering customers to make their own choices. It’s also a way in which Schneider Electric is hoping to achieve net-zero (note: this may be a pun).
In gathering the fishing nets, Schneider Electric has partnered with DSM, which itself collaborates with local communities to gather dumped fishing nets. DSM then recycles the fishing nets itself, converting them into an Akulon Repurposed compound. This long-lasting material has a significantly lower carbon footprint than the original netting material (by about 82 per cent), so it’s considerably better for the environment, the companies say.
Read more:
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/01/schneider-electric-is-making-light-switches-out-of-used-fishing-nets/