Waterhaul transform waste fishing nets into recycled sunglasses that meet the technical demands of adventure and embody a ‘symbol of change’ for our oceans.
Waterhaul
Waterhaul transform waste fishing nets into recycled sunglasses that meet the technical demands of adventure and embody a ‘symbol of change’ for our oceans. Waterhaul is a social enterprise based in Newquay, Cornwall.
Waterhaul utilise the strongest form of plastic in our oceans to produce exceptionally sustainable, recycled eyewear. Eyewear that meets the technical demands of adventure, ocean-exposure and UV protection, but also act as ‘symbols of change’ for our oceans. Waterhaul sunglasses frames are guaranteed to last you a lifetime, because they are made from nets that would last decades in the ocean.
“Waste is simply a misallocated resource” – Waterhaul value ocean plastic as unique material which tells a story.
Every year 640,000 tonnes of fishing nets are lost or discarded in the ocean. Samples of plastic waste accumulating in our oceanic gyres reveal 46% of this plastic, by weight, is attributable to fishing gear.
Fishing related debris are particularly harmful in our oceans due to their tendency to entangle marine life and damage seabed habitats, such as kelp beds and coral reefs. In a phenomenon known as ‘ghost fishing’, the entangled carcasses of trapped marine life will attract more species, resulting in further potential entanglements. As these discarded nets are produced from plastic, they will not degrade, persisting in the ocean to catch and kill marine life indefinitely.
Turning the problem on it’s head, all of the properties which make discarded fishing gear such a problem; its abundance, strength, and its propensity to harm, combine to make it both an excellent resource for recycling and a priority target to intercept from the ocean.
Waterhaul’s mission is to remove this w?a?s?t?e? resource from our ocean and coastline, divert waste nets from landfilling, expand recycling capacity and demonstrate solutions to this threat to our ocean.
Through mechanical recycling and a specialised injection moulding process, the end product is a high-performance, 100% recycled sunglasses frame, embracing the ultimate in sustainability and product stewardship.
Waterhaul eyewear range is produced from 100% recycled fishing nets and paired with recyclable mineral glass optics, and each pair directly contributes to the removal of ghost gear and other marine plastics. Waterhaul frames are guaranteed for life, with returned frames shredded and put straight back into the recycling loop.