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Learn how the Zmorph i500, 3D printing Cornwall, and Fishy Filaments™ collaborate to help create sustainable 3D-printed products made from old fishing nets.
Ever wondered about the negative environmental and social impacts of end-of-life fishing gear? Nearly 150,000 tonnes of monofilament nylon gear used on commercial fishing boats are discarded on land each year, but only 1.5 per cent of it is recycled.
Fishy Filaments™ is tackling this environmental issue by transforming old fishing nets into engineering-grade filaments. Under the partnership of 3D printing Cornwall, the recycled nylon filament material has been specifically optimised for usage on the Zmorph i500.
Learn how this unique collaboration is transforming the 3D printing industry by offering sustainable filament alternatives.
The majority of old fishing nets are disposed of in landfills leading to multiple environmental waste problems. The primary component of most fishing nets, Nylon 6, is effectively indestructible in landfills or the wider environment, with a degradation time estimated to be over 600 years.
More concerning from a conservation standpoint is the phenomenon of 'ghost nets,' fishing gear that is lost at sea or deliberately dumped to avoid responsibility. This action can impact wildlife for decades.
Ghost fishing, when fish marine life becomes caught in lost or abandoned nets, is thought to have a significant impact in some ocean areas, particularly near hotspots for sea life such as isolated islands and underwater seamounts.
According to plastics industry estimates, nearly 200,000 tonnes of new Nylon 6 is produced each year to manufacture new fishing nets and lines with monofilament, a single filament of synthetic fibre.
If every discarded fishing net can be recovered and repurposed using Fishy Filaments' patent-pending recycling process and equipment, it will save nearly 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Learn more about the Zmorph i500 professional 3D Printer →
Fishy Filaments™ recycles end-of-life fishing nets into engineering-grade filament for 3D printing. The company's mission is to have a large-scale impact on CO2 emissions as a result of its actions and technologies.
To achieve its goals, Fishy Filaments has collaborated with industry expert Michael Hunt, owner of 3D Printing Cornwall, who acts as a consultant and guides the company in promoting the use of recycled materials.
Michael Hunt has been able to validate and build the use case of using products made out of recycled materials on the Zmorph i500.
3D Printing Cornwall is also a print agency partner for Fishy Filaments. In fact, 3DPC is the first company to dedicate its resources to creating sellable products out of nylon filament.
Fishy Filaments and 3D Printing Cornwall aspire to leave a lasting impression on the world and work to achieve this vision while also ensuring that the filaments they produce meet industry standards and deliver engineering-grade plastic for 3D printing.
Fishing equipment is extremely durable.
Nylon 6 is quite strong and of higher quality than the nylon commonly found in everyday homewares or fashion. Fishing nets are stronger than regular products, according to Fishy Filaments, even after 6 months of sea use. The value and durability of Nylon 6 means fishing nets cannot and should not simply be disposed of.
Their durability makes them a great product to reuse and repurpose into new products.
Fishy Filaments collects old fishing nets and recycles them to create engineering-grade 3D printing filaments that are not only strong but also easy to print with.
The nets, which would have otherwise endangered marine wildlife in the ocean and taken up space in landfills, are repurposed and returned to the economy to be used to their full potential. This is an ideal example of the circular economy in action.
3D printing consultant to Fishy Filaments and owner of 3D Printing Cornwall, Michael Hunt, says:
“Sustainable and recycled 3D printing materials provide businesses with the opportunity to print with ‘Recycled Local Waste’.
In return, this supports the local economy with a return on investment.
Businesses can recycle local waste and use those materials in-house for their 3D printing business — saving on overall material costs and supporting the circular economy.”
Learn more about the Zmorph i500 professional 3D Printer →
Zmorph has always been an environmentally conscious company, aware of the harmful effects of plastics on biosystems and the environment, as well as their overall impact on climate change.
We’re also aware of how the 3D printing industry is rooted in plastics.
It’s for this reason that Zmorph consciously supports efforts toward environmentally-friendly processes. 3D printing can carry the flag of sustainable manufacturing forward with its capability to use the minimum possible material to build strong and resilient products.
Fishy Filaments and the work of 3D Printing Cornwall provides this opportunity. Jakub Mirski, CCO at Zmorph 3D, says:
“We’re strongly committed to sustainable outcomes in the 3D printing ecosystem.
Fishy Filaments provides a sustainable, circular alternative with their 100% recycled marine plastic nylon filaments. It’s currently a non-standard in the industry, but we wish for that change!
The Zmorph i500 is a machine built for the future. It’s highly capable of printing high-quality 3D products from recycled-based filaments. And the i500 stands out for its versatility as a printer!”
Zmorph supports recycling trends and sees recycled materials as a solution to the carbon impact of 3D printing.
Learn more about the Zmorph i500 professional 3D Printer →
This is the same conviction that drives Zmorph to develop their i500 printer as a flexible-source filament system.
Companies developing recycled filaments can freely test and experiment with their materials using Zmorph printers.
Fishy Filaments and 3D Printing Cornwall have chosen the Zmorph i500 for this purpose because the flexible system allows them to test non-standard filaments with ease. The i500 also provides a plethora of benefits, allowing them to have complete confidence in the printer.
First and foremost, the i500 has a large build volume, which allows customers to test their materials for larger prints and evaluate critical issues such as warping and curling that can occur when printing large products. It also has great print quality, is compatible with nylon material, has a heated build plate, and has a flexible materials system.
Purchase recycled nylon filaments in the Fishy Filaments shop →
The Zmorph i500’s versatility allows it to cater to a wide range of industrial clients, from lighting to small jewellery, all while maintaining an active cooling system for the i500’s hepa filter system and filament storage tray in their workshop.
3D printing Cornwall has already used sustainable filaments to create razor blades, lamp shades, jewellery items, and more. These products are sold in Selfridges, UK’s upscale department store, validating the time and effort spent in development.
3D printing consultant to Fishy Filaments and owner of 3D Printing Cornwall, Michael Hunt, says:
“While mapping our new materials and making profiles, Zmorph assisted us along the way and made the transition smooth, saving us valuable time in getting up and running on the i500.”
The Zmorph i500 is a leading-class and professional 3D printer that leads in the industry for its versatility. Fishy Filaments and 3D Printing Cornwall continue to use the Zmorph i500 for this very reason.
Learn more about the Zmorph i500 professional 3D Printer →
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