recycled fishing nets, strong prints and lower CO₂e materials
MyPrintPod visited 0rCA in Cornwall to see how recycled fishing nets are processed into materials used in sustainable 3D printing.
on Wednesday 27 August 2025, myprintpod reflected on a five-hour drive to Cornwall to meet Ian Falconer of 0rCA.
0rCA produces some of the recycled materials we use in our sustainable 3D printing production processes.
the visit was a useful chance to see more of the material story behind the parts we make: where the waste stream starts, how it is processed, and how it can become a practical engineering material.
from local fishing nets to printable material
0rCA works with gill nets gathered from local fishing fleets.
those nets are reprocessed using a patented non-chemical cleaning technology, then converted into chopped fibres. Those fibres are then used to produce extruded filament that can be used in additive manufacturing.
for myprintpod, this matters because material choice is central to sustainable manufacturing.
it is not enough for a material to be recycled in name only. It has to perform, print reliably and support a credible circular manufacturing route.
why this matters for myprintpod
myprintpod uses recycled and low-carbon materials as part of a wider approach to additive manufacturing.
that approach includes:
- recycled material inputs
- local and traceable supply chains
- practical engineering performance
- per-part CO₂e tracking
- design decisions that support reuse and recovery
the resulting prints from these materials can achieve very low CO₂e values while still producing strong, useful parts.
strength and sustainability together
one of the most important points from the visit was that sustainability does not have to mean weak or compromised parts.
materials derived from recovered fishing nets can offer serious mechanical performance when used in the right applications.
that opens up useful opportunities for functional prototypes, low-volume production and circular manufacturing projects where strength, traceability and reduced impact all matter.
shared interest in circular manufacturing
we are looking forward to working with Ian and the 0rCA team on our shared interest in sustainability.
for myprintpod, this is exactly the kind of supply chain that makes circular manufacturing practical: local waste streams, specialist material processing, additive manufacturing and clear evidence around carbon impact.
#3DPrinting #CO2e #Sustainability #RecycledMaterials #CircularManufacturing