A Glasgow-based startup is turning ocean waste into eco-friendly, origami-inspired planters. This clever business idea is targeting the issue of discarded fishing gear, giving it a second life as stylish plant pots.
The Scottish startup, POTR, is combating the issue of ghost gear by producing attractive geometric pots from plastic gathered from discarded fishing nets. These “ocean pots” are believed to be the world’s first planters constructed from traceable marine plastic. Each pot comes with a QR code that can be scanned to reveal data about when and where the ghost net was recovered from.
POTR’s founder, Andrew Flynn, emphasizes the importance of traceability in making the issue tangible for people. He believes that transparency in the journey of the product sparks meaningful conversations and helps people realize they can be part of the solution too.
The Glasgow-based startup has managed to establish a UK supply chain. The fishing nets are recovered and shredded by marine waste specialists, Waterhaul, based in Cornwall. The reclaimed plastic is then turned into pellets, pressed into sheets and finally die cut in Edinburgh. Research by Defra shows that the fishing and aquaculture industry in Scotland and England produces approximately 6,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. A significant proportion of this ends up littering our seas or cluttering shorelines.
For every tonne of recovered plastic, POTR is able to manufacture 5,000 ocean pots. The company is further committed to environmental cleanup efforts, pledging to donate 4% of profits. The unique origami-inspired design of the pots allows for them to be flatpacked for shipping. This reduces transport costs by a factor of 100, as per POTR’s team.
Flynn was motivated to act after witnessing the waste suffocating Scotland’s west coast. Harry Dennis, co-founder of Waterhaul, further emphasizes that ‘ghost gear is the most destructive form of plastic in the ocean. Collaborating with POTR enables us to transform this material into something useful, beautiful and desirable for people’s homes.’
We each have a role to play in promoting a healthier planet. Through supporting innovative solutions like POTR’s, we can contribute to a brighter, cleaner future. It’s a powerful reminder that even the smallest act, like choosing an eco-friendly planter, can be a step in the right direction.
