Upcycling the Oceans

Rubbish on the sea, a problem deep down

Did you know that every year eight million tonnes of rubbish end up on the sea bed? Upcycling the Oceans seeks to put an end to this problem that threatens marine ecosystems and their biodiversity, collecting waste on sea beds to transform them and give them a second life. 
 
Find out about all the details of this initiative that fights for the preservation of our oceans and promotes the future of the planet. 

We joining Ecoalf Foundation to row together in the same direction

Upcycling the Oceans was born in September 2015 by the Ecoalf Foundation. In 2016 we joined this initiative to promote the recovery of materials such as film, steel, or aluminium, and transform them into new raw materials. 
 
Together we have reached goals like the following, but we know there is still much more to do. 

1,196 tons. of recovered waste

Near 2.600 participant fishers

640 boats

45 ports in Galicia, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Region of Murcia and Andalusia

What happens with waste recovered from the sea?

Fishers place in the bins in each port the waste they recover from the sea during their working days. This waste is selected and PET plastic waste is taken to a recycler, where it is cleaned and transformed into pellet through different processes. 
 
What is the next step? Making yarn from this material, which will have first gone through different controls, ensuring it complies with the conditions required for making cloth of the same quality as those that do not include recycled materials. 
 
The remaining waste is selected and sent to the corresponding recycling channels, giving it a second life. 

Map of the ports that make it possible

Upcycling the Oceans is a reality thanks to the fishers that leave the materials in the bins in these ports