Samson Rope And Ocean Legacy Pioneer Recycling Path For End-Of-Life Marine Ropes
Samson Rope Technologies, Inc., has teamed up with Canadian non-profit Ocean Legacy Foundation to repurpose end-of-life high-performance marine ropes into durable consumer products, tackling a long-standing challenge in the marine industry.
High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) ropes, widely used in towing, vessel mooring, and offshore operations, are extremely durable but nearly impossible to recycle using conventional methods. Contamination from sea use and rope structure prevent curbside recycling, often leaving landfill disposal as the only option.
At Ocean Legacy’s Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility in Richmond, BC, retired HMPE ropes are now being processed using advanced recycling techniques. The fibrous material is densified and repurposed into functional products. Initial batches came from Samson Rope’s Innovation Center in Ferndale, WA, where used ropes were tested for residual strength and performance before recycling.
“Without proper recycling pathways, these ropes risk ending up as marine debris or ghost gear,” Ocean Legacy noted. One proposed long-term solution is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which would make producers accountable for managing their products through end-of-life.
As part of the partnership, Samson has joined Ocean Legacy’s Marine Plastic Management Program, reinforcing its commitment to landfill diversion and circular solutions in the sector.
One of the first applications for the recycled HMPE material is vertical growing towers that support urban agriculture. These innovative structures highlight how cross-industry collaboration can transform hard-to-recycle materials into resources with new value.
