A bio-based alternative to a knotty problem
Cultivating seaweed and mussels involves a lot of rope. These are usually made from petroleum-based plastics which are cheap and resilient – but also pollute the environment. BIOGEARS has a better idea. The BIOGEARS consortium developed bio-based ropes that offer a better mussels yield and a reduced environmental footprint while having the same durability as their plastic counterparts. Trialled in the Atlantic basin, the ropes are now market-ready, with project partners in contact with industrial partners to scale up the production and commercialisation of the BIOGEARS ropes.