10168278Revalorising Marine Polymer Waste: Circular Solutions To Meet Manufacturing Specifications (PP & PA6)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe UK's marine sector generates significant volumes of polymer waste, particularly ropes and nets made from polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6). These materials are durable and valuable but are currently difficult to recycle. Most are landfilled, incinerated, or exported, with limited capacity in the UK to convert them into high-quality materials suitable for manufacturing. PA6 nets are especially problematic due to their resistance to shredding, vulnerability to degradation, and incompatibility with standard recycling processes. Meanwhile, PP ropes suffer from poor market confidence and high processing costs, with few end-use applications to justify their recovery. This project aims to unlock the full recycling potential of these marine plastics through a combination of material trials, process innovation, and product development. Our approach is focused on creating industrial-grade compounds and pellets from PA6 and PP that meet the technical standards required by manufacturers. This includes piloting new blends to improve stability, testing scalable desizing methods for nets, and developing prototypes that demonstrate how these materials can be reinvested back into the marine economy. What sets this work apart is its focus on usability and scale. Unlike small-batch or artisanal recycling, this project is designed to meet real-world production needs. It considers the full recycling chain - from waste separation to final product - and aims to produce traceable, standardised materials that can compete with virgin plastic. This makes it attractive not only for sustainability-focused buyers, but also for potential investors or partners interested in circular economy solutions. The project also delivers direct value to the marine sector. By assessing how fishers and harbours could be compensated for clean, separated waste, it offers a potential shift from costly disposal to incentivised recycling. It further enables marine businesses to quantify and report their environmental impact reductions, supporting their sustainability commitments. With tightening regulations on plastic waste and growing demand for recycled content, this innovation is both timely and impactful. Early feedback from manufacturers and marine suppliers indicates strong interest in the project's outputs. Ultimately, this initiative will support the South West to lead in marine plastic recovery and create a scalable, sustainable model for recycling complex polymer waste - turning environmental liabilities into valuable resources for industry.