The quantity of rubbish in the ocean is shocking. More than 12 million tons of plastic end up in our seas every year. Plastic pollution plagues every corner of the ocean and despite growing awareness, the problem is only getting worse.
Fishing gear accounts for roughly 10% of that debris: between 500,000 to 1 million tons of fishing gear are discarded or lost in the ocean every year. Discarded nets, lines, and ropes now make up about 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
This marine plastic has a name: ghost fishing gear. Ghost fishing gear includes any abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear, much of which often goes unseen.
The deadliest form of marine plastic, ghost fishing gear unselectively catches wildlife, entangling marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks, subjecting them to a slow and painful death through exhaustion and suffocation. It also damages critical marine habitats such as coral reefs. Additionally, it’s responsible for the loss of commercially valuable fish stocks, undermining both the overall sustainability of fisheries as well as the people who depend on fish for food and livelihoods.
Crafted from recycled plastic from nets, trawls and ropes from the fishing industry, the Blue Marine Toys product line from Dantoy celebrates the sea. Featuring beautiful, subtle shades and shapes inspired by sand, sea and coral, every product is designed to be durable and long-lasting for indoor and outdoor play. The products are recyclable, and can also be returned in Dantoy’s Take Back scheme.
View the Dantoy Blue Marine Toy Collection at Hugs for Kids
“Sustainability is not just a trend – it’s our DNA,” commented Marck Matthiasen, CEO Dantoy. “By being open and welcoming the use of new and different materials, we can crack the need for new materials. It is a long and hard battle but here at Dantoy it is a natural part of how we work and think.”
Dantoy use their network of suppliers to collect used fishing gear, which is then created and crafted into an exciting collection of sand and waterplay toys at the company’s own factory in Hobro, Denmark.
“The colours and the surface texture of the Blue Marine products may be different from what we are used to,” explained Marck. “But this will symbolise that the product the buyer holds in their hands is a unique and sustainable product.”
Inge S. Knakkergaard Quality and Environmental co-ordinator at Dantoy, added: “It is exciting and challenging to make colour mixes from fishing nets that have a dark green colour as their base material. You have to think differently to achieve the different shades.”
Dantoy launches Blue Marine Toys, made from recycled maritime waste, Toy World Mag. Published on: 9th February 2022
Ghost fishing gear, WWF. Published on October 20, 2020
Blue Marine Toys, dantoy newspaper. Published on Jan 11, 2022