2023-2024: National project to recycle used fishing nets into a low environmental impact cement composite

The VALNET project aims to :

• Reduce the carbon footprint of the construction and public works sector, and more specifically of cement materials, by preserving non-renewable natural resources,
• Valorize used fishing nets by incorporating their fibers into cement composites, and thus create an eco-responsible fiber concrete.

Project development context

The VALNET project continues the dynamics instilled by the FIRENOR project which will end by December 2022 (presentation in the SMEL part). This last one had as objective to develop a simple and effective tool for the collection and the recovery of used fishing nets. The VALNET project fits perfectly with the continuity of these objectives in order to find a second life for these collected fishing nets.

Moreover, the VALNET project is complementary to the RECYPECH project (presented in the Maritime Cooperation section) which finds valorizations of fishing nets collected at a significant distance from the collection areas. VALNET will propose valorizations in the direct proximity of the collection areas, thus reducing the carbon footprint linked to the transport of this waste.

VALNET allows to set up the "next step" of these projects already realized or in the course of finalization, in order to perpetuate the dynamics of the actors of territory already mobilized and which already collect their used nets, and are waiting for valorization.

From the existing deposits, it will demonstrate the possibilities of reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry:

• by incorporating used fishing nets, thus avoiding their usual incineration.
• by the reduction of the carbon footprint linked in particular to the transport of the used nets, from their place of collection to their place of valorization.

Project partners

This project is financed by the ADEME within the framework of the Interregional Plan Contract State-Regions (CPIER VdS) the Seine Valley, the regions of Normandy and Ile-de-France up to 85% of the total cost of the project (613 508.40 euros).