Schneider unveils dimmers and switches made from fishermen’s nets

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.

The company – which showed the range of switches, dimmers and sockets at Light + Building in Frankfurt – says that millions of tonnes of plastic waste end up in the sea every year and it wants to do its bit to clean it up.

Discarded fishing nets, known as ghost nets, are particularly problematic. The United Nations Environment Program says that they damage and kill sea creatures that become entangled and subsequently suffocate or starve.

According to the UN Environment Programme, discarded fishing gear accounts for 10 per cent of the plastic waste in the oceans.

The nets are collected from beaches and all along the coastline and even from fishermen themselves.

The nets are cleaned, sorted, shredded and then the plastic is processed into a recycled polymer.

DSM, a specialist company, recycles more than 3,000 tons of nets every year from coastal areas, making an important contribution to protecting the environment.

The nets are used to make Akulon ® RePurposed, a particularly durable polyamide with good functional properties.

The material meets strict quality criteria. Akulon® RePurposed is also used to make surfboards, clocks and more.

Schneider Electric says that sustainable material sourcing is part of its philosophy. The company is committed to using fewer natural resources and is working to create a greener supply chain.

According to the Schneider Sustainability Impact Program, 50 per cent of the materials in its products should be environmentally friendly by 2025.

In addition, it is currently developing packaging solutions made from recycled cardboard so that in the future all primary and secondary packaging for its products will be free of single-use plastic.