Waterhaul
"Waterhaul" is an ocean positive social-enterprise, run by a team of ocean enthusiasts, passionate about combining adventure with making a positive impact. Based in Cornwall, UK, they are on a mission transforming the most harmful and abundant plastic in our ocean and around our coastline; discarded, lost and end of life fishing gear into fully recycled and circular products, built for adventure.
"Since 2019, we’ve been pushing the boundaries within the eyewear market to create a range of frames and sunglasses that not only have the highest possible positive impact on our ocean but are also fully circular. We’re not your usual eyewear brand. We’re mission driven, on a journey, to create the most traceable recycled eyewear ranges available on the market, with the most transparent supply chain. Making decisions to better the planet, not our wallets."
"Our process and products break the ‘ghost gear cycle’ by transforming this waste material into a reusable resource. Over the years our range of 100% recycled fishing gear products has grown, including beach cleaning and litter picking tools as well as a range of knives and products for adventures, all feeding back into and directly supporting a global community in connecting with and protecting the ocean. All our products are made from recycled fishing gear that we, and our network of volunteers, have recovered directly from the UK coastline. To date we have a growing community of over 30,000 people who have gone on to use our products to have their own positive impact on the ocean."
So what exactly is ghost gear? Lost, abandoned or discarded fishing gear, that loses its purpose but continues with its function; to catch and kill marine life. It’s the most harmful, most abundant and strongest form of ocean plastic on the planet. The problem is getting worse, growing by 640,000 tonnes every year.
Waterhaul exists to tackle the problem of ghost gear and 2025 sees the official launch of Traceable Marine Plastic, the ocean’s most harmful plastic waste transformed into high-performance polymers with value forming material feedstock solutions. Marine plastic recovered and recycled in the UK, entirely traceable from port to pellet and embedded with impact, for creating products for change. This process incentivizes fishers and coastal communities as well as brands, companies and supply chains to actively engage and join them in both recovering ghost gear and preventing its future accumulation, contributing to a cleaner, healthier ocean.
"Our rigorous traceability standards mean that we can account for every kilogram of material received at our facility. From pick-up, to pellet, to product, our digital traceability system enables tracking throughout the entire recycling process. Our materials are processed in isolation which means that the pellets we create are made from the exact marine plastics that we feed into the system."
This entire recycling process takes place within the UK, minimizing the carbon footprint of operations and ensuring full traceability whilst providing full documented evidence of recovery efforts, showcasing the journey from marine waste to performance material.
"Our traceable plastic pellets have so far been utilized by a wide range of industries to create sustainable, high-quality products."
Being a team of surfers, Waterhaul has been familiar with the incredible work that Rebel Fin Company are doing with their range of beautifully recycled and sustainable fins and accessories for some time now that we are really impressed with. Leading the way when it comes to ocean positive, surfing hardware solutions. In connecting with Rainer and the team, we are really excited to be working with Rebel Fin Company by not only supplying a range of products for their shop curation, but exploring the introduction of our Traceable Marine Plastic within their supply chain and product ranges. We look forward to making a direct impact based on the mutually aligning values and ethos of both Rebel Fin Company and Waterhaul.
