Chulalongkorn University has developed recycling technology to turn fishing nets into 3D-printing filament—reducing marine waste, contributing to a circular economy, and increasing income for fishing communities.
Highlights
Every time he takes a walk along the beach, beyond the beauty of the sea and the salty breeze that brings a sense of freshness, one thing that Dr. Nuttapol Risangud, a lecturer at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, cannot overlook is the plastic waste scattered along the shoreline—water bottles, fragments of plastic bags, scraps of fabric, and pieces of everyday household items. Most concerning of all are the discarded fishing nets that drift ashore, commonly known as “ghost nets,” a form of waste that silently inflicts severe damage on marine ecosystems.
Dr. Nuttapol’s primary research focuses on developing materials for 3D printing in medical and other applications, ranging from hydrogel materials for tissue engineering to flexible materials for medical devices. However, his love for the ocean and concern for seafood safety would not allow him to ignore the ghost nets drifting freely at sea or scattered along beaches without taking action. As a polymer chemistry expert, he initiated the project titled “Development of a Prototype Innovation for Recycling Nylon from Fishing Nets in 3D Printing Technology.” The research is supported by the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT) and has received recycled nylon pellets sourced from fishing nets, as well as research collaboration from UBE Technical Center (Asia) Co., Ltd. The project aspires to be a small but meaningful step toward advancing the future of the 3D printing industry while contributing to sustainable solutions for marine waste.
“In Thailand, some recycling of fishing nets already takes place, with local fishermen selling old nets to traders for recycling. However, nylon plastic from these nets has not yet been utilized in advanced technologies such as 3D printing,” Dr. Nuttapol explained, highlighting the opportunity for innovation.
Ghost Nets: Deadly Threat to the Ocean
Dr. Nuttapol stated that “Ghost nets” are abandoned fishing nets that drift aimlessly through the ocean like ghosts. Wherever they float, they create harm for marine life in that area. In reality, the impact of ghost nets on marine ecosystems is far more severe than many people realize.
“When fishing nets are discarded or accidentally lost at sea, they continue trapping marine animals just as they did when they were in use. The difference is that this time, no fishermen come to retrieve the catch. As a result, the animals ensnared in the nets often cannot survive. We may be familiar with images in the media of sea turtles or fish tangled in nets, but in truth, those scenes represent only a small fraction of the problem occurring beneath the ocean’s surface.”
Another major issue caused by ghost nets is “microplastics,” which pose risks to the health of marine organisms and humans, Dr. Nuttapol added.
“When these nets are degraded over time by sunlight, waves, and the marine environment, the plastic fibers gradually break apart into microplastics, which can disperse and accumulate in seawater and be ingested by small organisms such as plankton or young aquatic animals. These microplastics are then passed along and progressively accumulate up the food chain to large marine animals, and may ultimately return to humans through the consumption of seafood.”
Innovation for a Sustainable System Where Everyone Benefits
The project “Development of a Prototype Innovation for Recycling Nylon from Fishing Nets in 3D Printing Technology” began operations in June 2025, supported by research funding from the Center of Excellence for Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT), along with recycled nylon plastic pellets from fishing nets and research collaboration from Ube Technical Center (Asia) Co., Ltd. Dr. Nuttapol outlined three objectives of the research project:
- Academic: Developing new materials from recycled plastic for practical use in 3D printing technology is a challenge requiring deep knowledge in polymer chemistry, as recycled plastics often have properties that differ from virgin plastics. Researchers must therefore adjust formulations and add various additives to produce filaments of quality comparable to conventional products.
- Environmental: Opening new channels for the use of recycled plastic from fishing nets will increase the value and demand for old nets, thereby boosting recycling activity and helping reduce the volume of waste in the ocean.
- Community: This project aims to help increase income-generating opportunities for fishing communities. Currently, old nets are typically sent to the recycling process, but if communities receive knowledge of basic processing, such as washing, drying, or preliminary grinding, fishermen will be able to add value to the materials they already have and sell them in a higher-quality form.
“Although some recycling of fishing nets is currently in practice, their applications remain quite limited. Opening a new channel through 3D printing technology will create a larger market for recycled plastic from nets. When there is a reliable market, more old nets will be collected, purchase prices will improve, fishermen will benefit more, and, more importantly, our seas will become cleaner. This is the true goal of the project — not merely to create a new product, but to build a sustainable system where all parties benefit together: the environment, the community, and the industry,” said Dr. Nuttapol.
Processing: From Waste to Innovation
Transforming discarded fishing nets into quality filament for 3D printers is not an instantaneous process. It requires multiple systematic processing stages, from retrieving ghost nets from the sea to producing ready-to-use filament.
- Step 1 – Sorting and Cleaning: Once the nets are collected, the first task is to remove unwanted components such as lead, buoys, foam, ropes, and debris, including soil, sand, rocks, and shells that cling to the nets. They are then thoroughly washed. This step is a critical “pain point” because it requires large amounts of water and considerable space. For real-world implementation at a community level, careful planning around water systems and washing facilities is essential.
- Step 2 – Shredding and Sizing: Once the nets are dry and clean, they are fed into a shredder or grinder to reduce them into smaller pieces, then sorted to obtain plastic flakes of the appropriate size for melting in the next stage.
- Step 3 – Melt Compounding: The finely ground nets are melted and blended with various additives to improve their properties, then formed into recycled plastic pellets.
- Step 4 – Filament Extrusion: The recycled pellets are melted again and extruded through a die into long strands, then drawn through a puller to produce filament with a consistent diameter of approximately 1.75 mm, which is the standard for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers.
Dr. Nuttapol explained why the nets aren’t extruded directly into filament from the start, but must first be converted into pellets: “Each batch of nets we receive has an unknown origin, so we can’t know the exact properties. Pelletizing first allows us to much better control the quality and consistency of the final product.”
Filaments and 3D Printing: Opportunities for the Future
Filament is a plastic strand used as raw material for FDM 3D printers. The machine melts the plastic filament and deposits it layer by layer according to a computer-aided designed (CAD) model, gradually forming a complete three-dimensional object.
Dr. Nuttapol explained that the applications of 3D printing technology are highly diverse, ranging from producing toys and souvenirs to industrial applications. Today, many industries employ 3D printing to streamline production processes, reduce costs, and shorten product development time. For example, it is used to create prototype models for testing designs, produce molds for various manufacturing processes, or fabricate specialized components that previously required lengthy manufacturing..
For this research project, Dr. Nuttapol plans to use recycled materials from discarded fishing nets to develop prototype components for the automotive sector, such as motorcycle parts, which is a niche market that requires materials with high strength and light weight.
In addition, the resulting materials can be further developed into accessories or various other components for cars and motorcycles, tailored to the specific needs of each industry.
Outstanding Features of Filament from Recycled Fishing Nets
Dr. Nuttapol outlined two key advantages that distinguish filament made from recycled fishing nets from other types of filament:
- Environmental Advantage: This product is environmentally friendly because it is made from waste discarded in Thai seas. Expanding applications for recycled plastics increases demand for recycled raw materials, which in turn encourages greater collection and recycling of old fishing nets. Ultimately, this creates benefits that flow back to fishing communities, the original source of the raw materials.
- Technical Advantage: The research team can tailor the filament’s properties to suit specific applications. Although recycled plastics have different characteristics compared to virgin plastics, appropriate additives and formulation adjustments can bring their properties close to those of new-material filaments—particularly in terms of mechanical strength and printability in 3D printing processes.
Overcoming Challenges
Innovation is never a smooth or easy path. On the contrary, Dr. Nuttapol identified three major challenges that must be addressed:
- Quality Control: This is a key issue in the research. Dr. Nuttapol explained that fishing nets collected from different areas vary in age, degree of degradation, and contamination by dirt or heavy metals. As a result, the raw materials have inconsistent properties and are difficult to use directly for engineering applications. Converting the nets into recycled plastic pellets is therefore a crucial step, as it allows for better quality control and ensures that the material properties are sufficiently consistent for developing prototype components.
- Cleaning Process: Washing the nets requires a large amount of water and substantial space, which may conflict with environmental sustainability principles. In the future, the process must be improved to become more efficient and use fewer resources.
- Building Market Confidence: Even if the product meets high-quality standards, being made from recycled materials may make some customers feel uncertain. Addressing this issue requires real-world user testing and formal quality certification.
Despite numerous challenges, the project has continued to move forward steadily. Dr. Nuttapol noted that part of its success stems from collaboration among multiple sectors. These include research funding from the Center of Excellence for Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT), recycled nylon pellets from fishing nets, and technical knowledge in plastics technology provided by Ube Technical Center (Asia) Co., Ltd., as well as joint researchers from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) who have collaborated in developing and refining the production process.
“The process of developing innovation requires multiple rounds of experimentation and refinement—from adjusting the parameters for producing filament to modifying additives so that the material can be successfully extruded into filament. It is also essential to carefully analyze the appropriate types and amounts of additives to use,” Dr. Nuttapol described the challenges in the research. “Creating sustainable innovation requires knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines, ranging from polymer chemistry and materials engineering to product design and marketing.”
A New Future for Recycled Ghost Nets
- Phase 1 involves developing the production process and formulation, which will take approximately 6–10 months. The goal is to build know-how in producing plastic pellets and extruding them into functional filament suitable for real-world use, while also establishing collaborative networks with private sector partners and research institutions.
- Phase 2 focuses on scaling up production and market testing. A complete supply chain will be established, potentially with private companies supplying recycled plastic pellets. The research team will then blend additives based on the developed formulation and pass the material on to an OEM company specializing in filament extrusion. Finally, the product will be packaged and introduced for market testing. This phase is expected to take an additional 4–5 months, aiming to produce a prototype ready for customer trials and feedback for further improvement.
- Phase 3 focuses on returning value to communities and building a fully realized circular economy. Once the product receives a positive market response, the project will be extended directly to fishing communities by transferring knowledge and basic processing techniques to them. This will enable communities to add value to old fishing nets before selling them.
- Dr. Nuttapol stated that this innovation is a clear example of the Circular Economy concept, one that not only reduces waste and pollution but also creates added value at every stage of the cycle.
“This project is an opportunity to create real impact that is not just in the laboratory, but reaches out to communities and the environment.”
Dr. Nuttapol hopes the product will attract the interest of customers, deliver tangible benefits, and ultimately generate a positive impact on the environment.
“In the initial phase, we plan to develop the domestic market first, as this presents an immediate opportunity for growth and helps build confidence in Thailand’s industry. If the product demonstrates strong potential and gains local acceptance, we will consider expanding into international markets. Exporting will require carbon footprint calculations and supporting documentation to provide concrete verification of the product’s environmental friendliness.”
Beyond filament production, Dr. Nuttapol also envisions developing other products from recycled plastic pellets derived from discarded fishing nets. “Once we have high-quality raw materials and a well-established supply chain, we can expand into many other products—not limited to filament for 3D printing,” he explained.
At present, filament made from ghost nets is at the early stages of its journey to market. However, if everything goes according to plan, we may see various products printed from this filament used all around us in the near future. Most importantly, Thailand’s seas could become cleaner, free from ghost nets that claim the lives of marine animals and contribute additional microplastics to the food chain we rely on.
For those interested in the innovation of recycling nylon from fishing nets for 3D printing technology, please contact Dr. Nuttapol Risangud at the Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, or reach out through the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology (PETROMAT).
Website: http://www.petromat.org/
E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/291271/
