Cornishman recycles used fishing nets to stop land and sea pollution

It might not be the first place you'd think of when it comes to global innovation, but in the past 10 years Cornwall has become home to one of the most forward-thinking recycling models around.

- by BRITTA ZELTMANN

Ian Falconer whose company OrCa recycles fishing nets for 3D printing.

Ian Falconer, 52, is one of three people working from Newlyn harbour to convert tonnes of used fishing nets into filament, a material which is transformed into everyday items, from razors to sunglasses, using 3-D printing.

Ten years since its foundation Mr Falconer’s company OrCA, formerly Fishy Filaments, has raised more than £1 million from small investors in more than 40 countries, his patented machinery converting more than 20kg of nylon fishing nets an hour and supplying global brands including L’Oreal and Prada.

“We've had five or six different sunglasses brands use our material,” he said. “We've had electronic enclosures, artistic sculptures, shaving equipment, parts of a motorbike; we've had spares and repairs for industrial equipment. We're currently in the design processes for some very high-end bicycle parts. One of our customers is currently 3-D-printing furniture out of our material, so it’s all sorts of things.”