Hello! I'm Kimura from the ApparelX Sustainability Team.

While "sustainable materials" are rapidly spreading in the apparel industry, have you heard of apparel materials recycled from discarded fishing nets?

This time, we will introduce the features and appeal of MORITO's "recycled fishing net nylon," which is gradually gaining recognition as a sustainable auxiliary material!

Morito's Fishing Net Recycling System: Turning Marine Debris into Valuable Materials

Marine plastic is a global problem. Among these, discarded fishing nets are considered to have a serious impact on the environment due to their heavy weight and durability. Morito has focused on this issue, and in collaboration with partner companies, has established a series of processes that involve collecting discarded fishing nets, cleaning them, removing foreign matter, and crushing them, and then producing secondary materials through injection molding of recycled resin. This process is sustainable, yet produces apparel of a quality that can actually be used.

Why are abandoned fishing nets a problem?
Marine plastics are a global problem, and nylon materials such as fishing nets and gear tend to remain in the ocean, causing long-term damage.
If recycled properly, it may be possible to achieve quality close to that of new nylon. Against this backdrop, the scheme to recycle discarded fishing nets has become a new channel for shifting from the conventional practice of "discarding" to "reusing."

Recommended points of Morito nylon fishing nets

1. Clear traceability of ingredients

Abandoned fishing nets are mainly collected at fishing ports in Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku areas, etc.), and the collected nets are sent to affiliated recycling plants in Japan where they are cleaned, crushed, and recycled into raw materials.

The recycled nylon pellets are then injection molded at Morito's molding facilities both in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, etc., and produced into auxiliary materials such as buttons, stoppers, and buckles.

Where were the fishing nets collected, how were they made into resin, and what process was used to make the products? Morito has a high level of transparency in its supply chain, and can clearly disclose which process is carried out where, making it easy to explain the process from "fishing nets → recycled raw materials → molding → products," which is a major strength.

2. Physical properties equivalent to regular nylon

It is generally said that recycled resins tend to have unstable strength, but Morito's recycled fishing net nylon has an extremely stable finish after molding in terms of strength and durability, and is comparable to existing secondary materials.

3. Little color variation in molded products

Normally, injection molding of secondary materials tends to result in uneven coloring, which is a characteristic of recycled materials, but Morito is characterized by its high color uniformity, so the beauty of the product is not compromised when lined up.

4. A wide range of apparel accessories

The key point of Morito's recycled fishing net series is that it has been reduced to materials that are actually easy to use.

Another attractive feature is the range of products that are easy to use as a set, such as cord stopper , cord end, buckles and D ring.

When it was first unveiled a few years ago, it was available in dyeable white and a pale green reminiscent of fishing nets, but most of the accessories are now only available in black, so please be aware of that.

Here are some of the products featured on ApparelX.

The items have a strong affinity with lifestyle apparel, outdoor wear, and casual wear, and are attractive as they can be used throughout the year.

CR-300 Recycled Fishing Net Nylon 4-Hole Buttons

These versatile rimmed 4-hole buttons are available in sizes 18mm, 20mm, and 23mm.

The basic black nylon buttons make this an easy item to incorporate into your wardrobe.

CR-271 Recycled Fishing Net Nylon cord stopper

summary

Morito's recycled fishing net nylon material is becoming a new standard material that is not only sustainable but also practical.

It also contributes to reducing marine plastic, has excellent design and functionality, and is easy to replace with existing accessories, making it an easy eco-friendly accessory to adopt for brands looking to become more sustainable.

In addition to the products introduced this time, Morito has other products in its abandoned fishing net series, so if you're interested, please take a look here .