A SUSTAINABLE plastic pot company has launched a new product made entirely from recycled fishing net and rope removed from the Scottish islands.
Ocean Plastic Pots is an award-winning Glasgow-based sustainable business that has launched its fourth unique plant pot and saucer design, the Orka.
The 15cm pot and saucer is made entirely from recycled rope and fishing net collected from beach clean-ups across six different Scottish islands.
The project is the first of its kind in Scotland and was supported by communities across Eigg, Rum, Muck, Canna, Coll, and the Isle of Skye as they collected 1.7 tonnes of rope and net for the project.
Founder of Ocean Plastic Pots Ally Mitchell worked with a collation of beach clean-up groups to create the Orka as he insists “we all have a responsibility” when it comes to keeping our oceans and coasts clean.
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He said: “I am incredibly proud of our latest product The Orka.
“It really captures everything Ocean Plastic Pots is about.
“We want to make a difference and help protect our environment and our seas.
“We all have a responsibility and when more of us come together in numbers we can really grow awareness of plastic pollution.
“To have the support of all these communities on each of the islands was incredible and we couldn’t have done it without their time and efforts.
“I am more determined than ever to encourage more communities to come together to do their bit to help their surrounding environment and keep our beaches clean and safe.
“We all have a responsibility.”
Founded in 2020 by Mitchell, who is also a commercial deep-sea diver, Ocean Plastic Pots has worked with The Scottish Islands Federation Marine Litter Group, The Isle of Skye Beach Cleans, and The Scottish Coastal Clean Up Initiative to remove a staggering amount of plastic waste.
The rope and net material collected from the Scottish beaches were taken to Mallaig Harbour by small boats and any metal or contaminated materials were removed before it is sorted by colour and then recycled into pellets.
The pellets are then moulded into the pot and saucer called the Orka, which in Scandinavian means a willingness to make a difference, which is the ethos behind Ocean Plastic Pots.
The Orka plant pot is going to be available in gift shops on the islands from which the recycled materials came from.
Kerrie Flockhart from the Scottish Coastal Clean-Up Initiative also commented: “Ally’s passion to support other clean-ups and protect our beaches is to be commended.
“He is helping to make a real difference and encourages more of us to take pride in our communities.
“We are excited to roll out similar beach cleans this year and hope even more people will join us as we continue to fight against the plastic that plagues our beaches and seas.”
The project was also supported by the Ocean Recovery Project, as part of Keep Britain Tidy, and will be on sale at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower show.
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