The NEUE KLASSE of electric vehicles will feature plastic parts made from 30 percent recycled fishing nets and ropes, which will result in a 25 percent smaller carbon footprint than parts made from conventionally manufactured plastics.
The BMW Group is taking the recycling of maritime plastic waste a step further with the help of PLASTIX. Fishing nets and ropes are separated and then produced with plastic. While recycled maritime plastic has been used in the automotive industry in the form of fibers for new vehicle components, it is now also suitable for the injectionmould process for the first time. 30 percent of the maritime plastic waste can be used to make the components.
Unraveling the Pacific Garbage Patch
BMW gave out plastic beads made from fishing rope.
Commercial fishing rope recycling is a huge deal in terms of reducing ocean plastic pollution, but we don’t talk about it more here at CleanTechnica. What is the size of “so huge”? Commercial fishing nets are the main source of garbage in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Three-quarters of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch mass was carried by debris larger than 5 cm. Fishing nets made up at least half of the total.
Creating a market for used commercial fishing nets and ropes would deter people from cutting the ropes and leaving them in the ocean. As a raw material, these nets can be found at virtually any major port around the world, and measures like these by BMW could ensure that it doesn’t end up as sea trash.
The images are from BMW and nature.
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