Lankhorst Ropes has announced the rope industry’s first recycling scheme for retired maritime ropes. The ropes are recycled as picnic sets, plastic poles, planks and even complete landing stages, riverbank bank protection boards and bridges.

Traditional natural yarn ropes have long been superseded by stronger and lighter synthetic yarn fibre ropes such as polyester and polypropylene in maritime towing and mooring. Until now the industry lacked a systematic approach to recycling used ropes.

Developed over the past 12 months, the Lankhorst Ropes scheme takes a ‘cradle to grave’ approach to rope recycling for its maritime customers. New ropes are supplied with a works certificate containing the rope’s unique number and recycling scheme logo. When ropes are returned, a confirmation of receipt for recycling is issued.

“All our customers are following Green environmental and sustainability policies in other areas of their business, the Lankhorst Ropes recycling scheme now allows them to include mooring and towing ropes in these policies,” says Hans-Pieter Baaij, manager Maritime Division, Lankhorst Ropes.