Who we are and what we do

Blue Circular Economy (BCE) is a three-year (2018-2021), transnational project co-funded by the EU Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA). Its aim is to support the development of the fishing net waste industry in regions across Europe’s Northern Edge. This project builds on the previous project called Circular Ocean(2015 – 2018). Blue Circular Economy (BCE) aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) offering products and services within fishing gear recycling solutions in the NPA region to attain a greater market reach. BCE will set up a multi-level cluster to connect and catalyze SMEs in the region. The cluster formation will be used as a network enabler where knowledge and experience are developed and shared. BCE will contribute to sustainable development in the NPA region at the economic, environmental and social levels.

THE BLUE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
PARTNERS

Mission

Our mission is to generate sustainable business opportunities focussed on marine plastic waste solutions through informed, innovative and collaborative efforts, for the benefit of enterprises, local economies, and the environment.

Vision

Our vision is to create the ecosystem, knowledge and industry necessary to reduce the presence of marine plastic waste by fostering a vibrant industry for the recycling and reuse of used fishing netting.

Values

The BCE operates according to the following values:
Sustainability
Leadership
Collaboration
Openness
Entrepreneurship

HOW ARE OUR OCEAN'S BEING AFFECTED?

Environmental Impact Fact sheet

Oceans continue to accumulate debris in all forms making them possibly the biggest landfills on the planet. Marine littering, defined as the introduction of solid refuse into the marine environment through human activity, poses a major threat to the ocean environment and is a growing concern for authorities.

The total economic damage of marine plastic waste is estimated at almost €12 billion per year including environmental, commercial and clean-up costs

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
  • Up to 12.7 million tons of marine plastic waste enters the oceans each year due to poor waste management practices.
  • By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans
  • Over 33,000 nets are estimated to be lost in selected European fisheries annually due to bad weather conditions, gear conflict and ocean currents.
  • Experts believe that entanglement by fishing-related gear is the number 1 threat to seabirds, turtles and marine mammals
  • Plastic material adsorbs persistent organic pollutants from its ambient environment, which if ingested by marine organisms, may enter the food web.
  • Long term effects on marine life include impacts on marine ecosystems that ultimately leads to loss of biodiversity.

Partners in the Blue Circular Economy project include:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway)

Western Development Commission (Ireland)

Technical University of Denmark

The Centre for Sustainable Design, University for the Creative Arts (UK)

Environmental Research Institute

WE ARE BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE THROUGH ENTERPRISE

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