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TMG Textiles was part of a project to develop a value chain for the unused fishing nets and algae transformation into textiles in the Blue Bieconomy Pact. Tintex Textiles, Fitexar, CeNTI, and CITEVE are some of the 16 entities involved.
The project – which began with the challenge launched by the Portuguese startup that produces footwear, clothing, and accessories in recycled polyester created from plastics collected at sea – is one of the seven verticals of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact led by Inovamar. The calendar foresees the presentation, in December 2025, of a collection of sports clothing and footwear that promotes the reduction of fossil or non-renewable origin and the de-pollution of the oceans and coastal materials use.
As Pedro Silva, R&D director at TMG Textiles, explained to the newspaper Dinheiro Vivo, “We are challenged by startups to sponsor new technologies. In this case, the challenge was the transformation of fishing nets into textile materials. The objective is to have a completely differentiating product that adds value to the final item. And we believe we will be successful. But we didn’t want to stop there and thought about how to maximize the sea and bring it to textiles, incorporating algae into the process.”
Algae combat one of the most polluting phases of ITV – dyeing – and, thus, are part of more sustainable textile dyes’ production. Furthermore, the aim is to use microalgae to associate various functionalities with new fabrics and knits, namely with antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-UV, antiperspirant, or anti-odor capabilities.
However, the applications of algae do not stop there, and scientists are still studying the potential of microalgae in the treatment of textile effluents to reduce the water footprint of this sector.
“We are in the final validation phase of the laboratory scale of threads from fishing nets, but I believe we will quickly begin to have threads on an industrial scale. We hope, in 2025, to have new products to present to the market”, explained the R&D director at TMG Textiles. Among those involved, Docapesca is responsible for collecting the nets; Sirplaste cleans and transforms the networks; Fitexar transforms them into yarn; and TMG and Tintex ensure the production of fabrics or knits and their dyeing.
The final product should result in a collection of niche swimwear and sportswear products launched under the Lightning Bolt brand by TMG and footwear under the Skizo brand.