Award for firm behind lights made from fishing nets

The company behind Signify’s range of pendants made from recycled fishing nets has won an International award.

Cornwall-based Fishy Filaments – which sources discarded nylon fish nets from fishermen on the UK’s coast and transforms them into granulate –  took a top honour at the 2023 3D Printing Awards in the sustainability category.

Signify uses the material to print its ‘Coastal Breeze’ collection of sustainable pendant luminaires.

The raw material is then processed into filament in Maarheeze, the Netherlands, and 3D printed in Turnhout, Belgium. Up to 46 per cent of yer ocean plastic consists of fishing nets, lines and ropes.

These nets are often discarded in the ocean, endangering the lives of marine wildlife. Transforming this waste into 3D filament disposes of 4.5 meters of fishing net per luminaire.

Signify says that 3D-printed luminaires represent up to 76 per cent lower emissions from material supply and manufacturing, and up to 28 per cent savings in transport.

When lit, the recycled material shows gradients of blue green tones and small irregularities which make every lamp unique, says Signify. Its designers say they were inspired by textures from the sea: sand dunes, rippling water and fish scales.

Kevin Raaijmakers of Signify, told the Circular Lighting Report: ‘The collection is special because it’s beautiful in both its design and its purpose. We want to share what we have learned about ocean pollution and the exciting solutions there are to use the waste we all generate.’

Earlier this year, Schneider Electric has unveiled a range of electrical accessories made from discarded fishermen’s nets.

The Merten M-Pure Ocean Plastic is made from 50% regular plastic and 50% from discarded fishermen’s nets.

‘It was an honour to reach the shortlist this year and, for the second time, a genuine surprise to win,’ said Fishy Filaments founder Ian Falconer.

‘Fishy Filaments is real minnow as a company but it’s incredibly gratifying to see our impact and ideas ripple out.

‘We’re not even halfway through our plan to improve the life and environment of fishing communities around the world, so give us a year or two, and we’ll be angling for our third.’

• Diary date: Circular Lighting Live 2024, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, takes place on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at the Royal College of Physicians in London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2024 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: www.circularlighting.live