As the global environmental crisis becomes ever more pressing, we all have a responsibility to adopt more sustainable practices – starting today. In particular, the shipping industry needs solutions to the issue of ocean rope dumping. Thanks to their recyclability and long service lifetimes, mooring lines made with aramid fiber Twaron® provide an answer. By reclaiming and reprocessing these ropes at the end of their useful lifetimes, as well as leftover aramid from the manufacturing process, Teijin Aramid is helping shape a more sustainable maritime industry. But to drive our impact, we are actively seeking partners across the value chain – why not join us?
The urgent need to reduce rope dumping
Plastic marine waste is a serious and growing problem – indeed, it’s expected to outweigh the fish in our oceans by 2050. All this waste has serious consequences for our natural ecosystems: plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals (UNESCO).
Mooring lines are one contributor to this waste problem. Conventional ropes, such as those made from HMPE and other synthetic fibers, are often thrown in the ocean at the end of their product lifetimes because they are non-recyclable. The other disposal option, incineration, releases harmful greenhouse gases.
In response to this issue, regulatory bodies and consumers are demanding more sustainable rope disposal practices, through stricter guidelines and spending power, respectively. To meet these requirements, ship owners need alternative mooring materials.
Aramid: A sustainable alternative
Twaron® based mooring line a sustainable mooring ropeFortunately, technology to improve the environmental impact of mooring lines is already available. Specifically, aramid’s excellent strength-to-weight ratio and durability make it a more efficient, safer, and longer-lasting alternative to materials like HMPE and steel, which reduces its total cost of ownership.
Even more importantly for mooring ropes, aramid – unlike HMPE – can also be recycled. “HMPE can only be downcycled because of its low melting point,” explains Philip Altena, Manager Circular Economy Teijin Aramid.
“By contrast, used aramid, such as Twaron®, typically has a very high functional value even after years of use,” he says. “This means that Twaron®-based mooring lines can be recycled, enabling ship owners to avoid ocean dumping and reduce rope disposal costs.”
“TWARON®-BASED MOORING LINES CAN BE RECYCLED EVEN AFTER YEARS OF USE, PREVENTING OCEAN DUMPING AND REDUCING DISPOSAL COSTS.”
Teijin Aramid: Giving used aramid a second life
To facilitate this recycling and contribute to a more sustainable shipping industry, Teijin Aramid has been recycling Twaron® for over 20 years, working with partners around the world.
In particular, end-of-life Twaron®-based mooring lines are collected from ship owners and port authorities. “The rope covers are removed and the recyclable aramid material – typically more than 95% of the rope – is extracted,” explains Philip. “We also collect back high-value scrap aramid from rope manufacturers.” After this leftover aramid has been checked for quality, it is transported to our dedicated recycling facility in Arnhem, the Netherlands, where it is broken down into soft, wet pulp form, as shown in the infographic below.
“We always process used aramid safely and carefully, and handle all data confidentially,” adds Philip. “Having our own recycling unit allows us to work more effectively, underlining our commitment to driving a circular economy.”
Made from recycled feedstock, the pulp has similar functional properties to pulp made from virgin material. Automotive industry manufacturers use it in high-performance applications such as brake pads and linings, gaskets, and clutch plates.
Infographic of Twaron® mooring lines recycled into pulp for asbestos replacement
A key step toward a circular aramid chain
Recycling aramid-based mooring lines offers several environmental advantages. Firstly, collecting the scrap aramid and used aramid-based ropes reduces ocean and landfill waste and incineration emissions, as well as the costs of these disposal methods.
What’s more, using pulp made from recycled feedstock to manufacture new products can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and natural resource consumption. In fact, every kilogram of used aramid saves 4kg of CO2 in pulp production. And, because the recycled aramid often replaces asbestos in automotive applications, it can also make these products more environmentally friendly.
But recycling is just one way in which we aim to drive circularity. “Our Sustainability Team is continually looking for new technologies to improve the environmental impact of our operations and of our products that are used in marine and offshore applications,” adds Philip. “For instance, we’re currently exploring the use of bio-based BTX compounds to produce Twaron® more sustainably,” he says. “And our ultimate aim is to carry out yarn-to-yarn recycling and create a fully circular aramid chain.”
“EVERY KILOGRAM OF USED ARAMID SAVES 4KG OF CO2 IN PULP PRODUCTION.”
Collaboration is key – join us today
However, recycling – and sustainability more widely – is a crossvalue-chain effort. And to continue our mooring line recycling initiatives on a larger scale, we need even more partners. “Collecting used aramid can be challenging, so collaboration – particularly with our downstream partners – is essential,” says Philip. “To this end, we warmly invite our maritime-industry partners – including rope manufacturers, ship owners, and port authorities – to send us back their scrap aramid and used aramid-based ropes, and partner with us on recycling solutions.”
“We all have a shared responsibility to enable more environmentally friendly mooring and prevent ocean rope dumping,” Philip concludes. “One company alone cannot change the whole maritime industry – but when we work together, we will make a world of difference.”
Are you interested in aramid recycling, or would you like more information on how we can work together to recycle Twaron®?
JOIN US and let’s make a difference together!
Satyavan HangeGlobal Market Manager Ropes & Cables