Sustainability of bio-based, biodegradable, and non-degradable plastics for fishing gear and aquaculture equipment

December 19th, 2023 | Research Area 5

Cecilia Askham

NORSUS AS

Leader Research Area 5

This research area will contribute to developing sustainable circular solutions strategies for existing fossil-based non-degradable and future biodegradable fishing gear and aquaculture equipment. The goal is to develop sustainable value chains for existing and new materials which also take the level of circularity into account. Three pillars of sustainability are investigated (environmental, social and economic). This research area will contribute iterative sustainability knowledge to increase innovation. The sustainability of conventional non-degradable, bio-based and biodegradable plastics depends on many factors, including the level of circularity in the value chain. Improved waste sorting technologies and optimized mechanical, chemical, and organic recycling technologies will be investigated for the new innovative materials from a sustainability perspective.

Key research and development tasks:

5.1: Define the status quo for the material flow of fishing gears on a national and regional level to document the proportion of used fishing gear delivered for further processing and depositing, loss of mass due to wear, and both documented and undocumented loss of gear.

5.2: Perform LCA assessments of specific fishing gear systems and materials, taking into account the entire value chain from production to end-of-life in order to:

• Investigate and make recommendations for sustainable, circular value chains.

• Enable increased and environmentally beneficial recycling

• Assess the potential leak of plastics in the sea from both non-degradable and degradable plastics, and their potential environmental effects.

• Provide information and new knowledge in order to achieve interactive processes for developing sustainable systems.

5.3: Identify research gaps.

5.4: Contribute to development of the LCA methodology in order to include plastic losses and marine litter, in collaboration with MarILCA (https://marilca.org/), as well as contribute to the UNEP Life Cycle Initiative GLAM (Global Guidance for Life Cycle Impact Assessment Indicators and Methods).

Publications

Askham, C., Pauna, V. H., Boulay, A.-M., Fantke, P., Jolliet, O., Lavoie, J., Booth, A. M., Coutris, C., Verones, F., Weber, M., Vijver, M. G., Lusher, A., & Hajjar, C. (2023). Generating environmental sampling and testing data for micro- and nanoplastics for use in life cycle impact assessment. Science of The Total Environment, 859, 160038.

Sadeleer I., Askham C., Alnes R. B. (2021). Defining status quo for the material flow of fishing gear on a national and regional level

Vodopia D., Verones F., Askham C., Larsen R. B. (2024). Retrieval operations of derelict fishing gears give insight on the impact on marine life. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 201, 116268

Subaşı A. B., Askham C., Sandorf E. D., Dias L. C., Campbell D., Taş E. F., Itsubo N., Nagawa C. B., Kyarimpa C. M., Djerma M., Bazie B. S. R., Cinelli M. (2024). Weighting factors for LCA—a new set from a global survey. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 29:2107–2136