Project Description: The project "Circular solutions for the aquaculture industry", SirkAQ, will develop solutions for one of the largest waste streams in the aquaculture industry; plastic materials from decommissioned aquaculture facilities. This waste stream represents an unused potential for value creation and a strong need for increased circularity. It is estimated that an aquaculture facility with 8-10 cages contains more than 300 tons of plastic, which represents a great potential to increase the recycling from current 37% up to 100%.

The project will develop new solutions and value chains by establishing circular circuits through reuse, repair, life extension and the use of recycled material in new products, which will save material resources, energy and costs. This requires changes along the entire value chain. Material recycling and eco-design for reuse and recycling is necessary, where the future design of equipment also considers the requirements for resource efficiency.

In the project, we focus on all plastic equipment used in an aquaculture facility, including fiber-based products such as nets and ropes. Environmental documentation and digital solutions for traceability along the value chain will also be developed. The project will identify barriers in current regulations and standards, and influence changes that must be made to increase the use of circular solutions for aquaculture equipment. Load bearing structures such as floating collars and sinker tubes will be made of high-quality recycled material. The project will transform the industry into a circular economy, help reduce plastic waste, and limit climate emissions by reducing the consumption of fossil raw materials.

Project Manager: Chief Sustainability Officer Hanne Digre

Funding received from: GRØNNPLATTFORM-Grønn plattform

Project Partners: ScaleAQ (project manager), Oceanize, Hallingplast, SinkabergHansen, OsloMet, Norner Research, Sintef Ocean and Future Materials

Norner Project Manager: Jorunn Nilsen

More information: https://prosjektbanken.forskningsradet.no/en/project/FORISS/340887