From Pitch to Pellet: Recycle Old Nets for a Greener Game

Every season, clubs across the country replace old nets with new, chucking them in the bin and thinking no more of it. An Aberdeenshire based company is looking to change this and help to make Scotland greener.

Dekmar have spent the last three years specialising in recycling fishing nets and marine waste. Now they are branching out into the world of football and expanding their services.

They pride themselves on their fundamental principles of sustainability and innovation.

Company owner, Derek Wiseman, has been in the fishing industry for 35 years and combines experience with passion for sustainability. Alongside co-owner Marj, who manages the administrative side of the company, Dekmar has developed a process that transforms old synthetic nets and ropes into reusable materials and have said they are now “in possession of larger industrial equipment” to help with this new venture.

For clubs, the process is simple. The only outgoing cost is the postage to send the old nets to Dekmar’s facility. In return, they will reduce waste and support sustainability, contributing to a more economic world of sport.

The materials themselves are first deconstructed and shredded before being pelletised into small reusable plastic pellets. These then can then be used in future manufacturing.

As football continues to push towards greener initiatives, companies like Dekmar are showing that even something as simple as an old net can play a part in contributing to the goals of wider society.