Lanka Upcycles and Phoenix Industries have partnered to develop Sri Lanka’s first surfboard fins manufactured entirely from recycled fishing nets, marking a key milestone for sustainable manufacturing and marine conservation within the country’s coastal sports industry.
The collaborative initiative takes discarded fishing gear, commonly referred to as ghost nets, and converts the recovered polymer materials into high-performance surfing accessories. By repurposing marine plastic waste collected along coastlines, the project aims to tackle plastic pollution in local waters while providing sustainable alternatives for the domestic surfing community.
Key Developments
- Lanka Upcycles and Phoenix Industries have engineered Sri Lanka’s first surf fins utilizing recycled fishing nets.
- The product targets the reduction of abandoned fishing gear in ocean waters by transforming waste nylon into functional sporting equipment.
- The initiative demonstrates an operational model for circular manufacturing and material repurposing within Sri Lanka’s coastal sector.
The manufacturing process highlights an expanding commercial capacity for closed-loop plastic recycling in Sri Lanka, converting environmental hazards directly into durable sports hardware designed for local and visiting surfers.