When fishing nets that once drifted across the sea reach the end of their life, they can become “materials of opportunity” that create new value for industries. This is the power of Nets Up, a circular-economy initiative that connects fishing communities, the public sector, private organizations, and leading brands under one shared goal: giving end-of-life nets a second life.
One of the most striking examples in Thailand today is the collaboration between Nets Up and Sabina, a leading Thai fashion brand, that creates value for the environment, coastal communities, and businesses all at once.
From End-of-Life Nets to High-Quality Recycled Plastic Resins
Dr. Suracha Udomsak, Chief Operations and Innovation Officer of SCG Chemicals (SCGC), explained the concept behind Nets Up: “Circular Economy is a future-focused business model that addresses both environmental and economic needs. We want end-of-life fishing nets to be reborn within a business ecosystem that truly creates value.”
SCGC leverages its expertise in materials science, advanced recycling technologies, and digital solutions through community waste banks. The “KoomKah” application is used to record and manage transactions, enabling end-to-end operations, from collecting expired fishing nets from coastal communities, to washing, sorting, and recycling, and finally building a logistics system that delivers these materials to downstream industries across the value chain.
“We began in Rayong Province, close to SCGC’s production base, and expanded to 23 coastal provinces to establish a nationwide marine waste management network,” Dr. Suracha added.
What Nets Up is building goes beyond recycling. It is creating a new circular value chain where every stakeholder, from fishing communities to major brands, can meaningfully participate, and where each step generates real, tangible added value.
From Sea to Runway: Sabina Transforms Marine Waste into Fashion
Sabina, one of Thailand’s leading fashion brands committed to sustainability, recognized the potential of end-of-life fishing nets collected through the Nets Up project. Ms. Duangdao Mahanavanont, Chief Executive Officer of Sabina Public Company Limited, shared that the inspiration behind the “From Marine to Fashion” collection began with a desire to create sustainable products that are beautiful, truly wearable, and genuinely beneficial to the planet.
“We use fibers upcycled from discarded fishing nets to produce swimwear and sportswear. Our swimwear, in particular, is made using high-density weaving technology that provides UPF 50+ protection, blocking up to 98% of harmful UV rays.”
Although fibers derived from discarded nets can have limitations in color or fineness, Sabina view these characteristics as strengths. “The thicker, coarser fibers offer a unique advantage in sun protection. When combined with creative fashion design, they become products that are both stylish and meaningful.”
This collection not only strengthens the brand’s sustainability narrative but also reduces the use of virgin fibers by over 2,000 kilograms in 2024, and by more than 3,000 kilograms so far in 2025, demonstrating a significant sustainability impact within Thailand’s fashion industry.
The Power of Collaboration: When Business, Fishing Communities, and the Environment Move Forward Together
At the heart of Nets Up is collaboration across all sectors, from local fishers who help collect discarded nets from the sea to major brands that transform the collected nets into new products. “Behind every net is the creation of value for fishing communities and the restoration of balance to our oceans.” Dr. Suracha Udomsak “Using just 200 grams of discarded nets to make a single swimsuit may seem small, but when scaled across the entire business ecosystem, it becomes a powerful force that reduces waste and drives a new circular economy.” Ms. Duangdao Mahanavanont
Expanding the Circle: Inviting Businesses to Join the Movement
What sets Nets Up apart from typical upcycling projects is its ability to invite all sectors to be part of the solution, not only fashion brands, but also industries such as automotive parts and home appliances.
“We aim to drive Thailand toward a low-carbon society and welcome partners from all sectors to join us in building a circular economy together,” said Dr. Suracha.
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Brands interested in collaborating with Nets Up can reach us at Website: www.nets-up.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/NetsUp.MarineMaterials Instagram: www.instagram.com/netsup.marinematerials/ Explore Sabina’s “From Marine to Fashion” Collection: www.sabina.co.th or LINE Official: @SabinaThailand
