T
A joint venture gathering companies and researchers and an investment rounding 680 thousand euros are the basis for a project which aims to turn marina litter and infesting algae into textile thread. The basis for action were presented in the Science and Technology Park in Terceira Island, the Azores.
Named Azores EcoBlue the project has as basis a joint venture led by the company Circular Blue, which integrates the Science Park, Okeanos centre from the University of the Azores, the University of Minho, the company Visual Thinking, the International Centre for Research of the Atlantic (Air Centre), the Portuguese Entrepreneurial Association (AEP) and the Centre for Innovation in Iceland.
“With this project we will develop our own thread, made from marine waste, develop a canvas or membrane which may be used for isolation or sun protection and, with all that, produce a textile collection and integrate all these products in a shed, which will be made from uncharacterized boats or boats stopped in our coastline”, explained Nieta da Ponte Rocha, architect, to Lusa.
The company will make the company work in new raw materials collected from the ocean or coastline. “It’s a need, not a trend. We will only work with endemic or infesting species, textile waste or surplus from any textile industry”, explained the entrepreneur.
Besides marine waste, an invasive algae identified in the Azores by the Okeanos centre, from the University of the Azores, will be worked on. Litter will be collected in partnership with local authorities, shipowner associations, fishermen’s wives and schools.