Bureo Turns Fishing Nets Into Skateboards — And More

Here's an idea that'll hook you: Collecting discarded fishing nets and repurposing them to be eco-friendly products. It's a wild and welcome initiative that helps clean our waterways while contributing to a more sustainable future. And Bureo is doing just that.

Founded in 2013 by Ben Kneppers, Kevin Ahearn, and David Stover, Bureo devised the idea of gathering and recycling fishing nets, which are usually made from plastic and often abandoned in oceans, and putting them to productive use.

"Discarded fishing nets make up an estimated 10% of plastic in the ocean and have been found to be four times more harmful than all other forms of plastic pollution," the company says.

Bureo sets up collection points in coastal communities, thereby encouraging local fishermen to deposit retired nets rather than dispose of them at sea. These nets, typically made from durable nylon, are transformed by Bureo into a raw material that the company calls NetPlus. This material serves as the foundation for various products, including skateboards, sunglasses, and surf fins, all available via Bureo's website.

"We understand that, in many cases, the problem is not the fishermen but rather the lack of infrastructure available for when the nets meet their end of life," Bureo says. "We work together with fisheries and local communities to provide an incentivized program to collect, clean, sort and recycle fishing nets, creating positive solutions for end-of-use fishing nets, employment opportunities for local workers, and funding for community programs.

"Though our focus is narrow, it’s a major piece in the puzzle to solve the plastic pollution crisis."

Results are impressive. The company says it has collected over 10 million pounds of discarded nets to date, from sources in six countries. Bureo also collaborates with companies — including Patagonia, L.L. Bean, Costa sunglasses and Trek bicycles — to use NetPlus in manufacturing their offerings, further reducing demand for pre-consumer plastic.

And the word "bureo"? It means "the waves" in the language of the Mapuche, a population native to Chile.

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To learn more about Bureo and explore their sustainable products, visit their website at www.bureo.co. The website provides information about their initiatives, showcases their product catalog and offers opportunities for engagement in ocean conservation efforts.

—By Che Lewis