‘Groundbreaking’ microplastic recycling facility opens in Cornwall

The Cleaner Seas Group has unveiled a microplastic recycling facility – the first of its kind – in Bude, on the UK’s Cornish coast. The new microplastic recycling facility centre brings together Cleaner Seas Group’s microfibre filter technology with a closed-loop recycling system.

The team behind the facility says the new microfibre filter hub, microplastic recycling lab and return + recycle centre could save up to 86 tonnes of microfibres annually from polluting the ocean. 

The Cleaner Seas Group’s microfibre filters – rolled out across domestic, commercial and industrial settings – capture harmful plastic fibres before they pollute waterways and oceans.

The pioneering facility in Cornwall goes a step further and can transform the captured microplastics into usable materials through a low-impact, closed-loop process. Applications can include construction components, packaging, and even battery materials – giving waste a second life, instead of polluting the ocean.

Dave Miller, CEO, Cleaner Seas Group, says: “Let’s be honest – microplastic pollution is a global crisis hiding in plain sight. It’s in our oceans, our food, our brains and and our bloodstreams. We’re told it’s too complex to fix, too late to act – but we’re proving that’s not true. This new facility isn’t just about filtration or recycling – it’s about completely shifting the way we deal with waste and sustainable materials.

“We’ve built a system that stops microplastics before they enter our waterways and transforms them into materials with real value. That’s a genuine circular economy in action – not theory, not greenwash, but something tangible, scalable and right here in Cornwall.

“It shows you don’t have to choose between protecting the planet and building a commercially viable business. You can do both. And in a world crying out for climate action and practical solutions, we’re proud to be offering one. This is just the beginning.”

The recycling facility is set to transform the way the world tackles microplastic pollution and has been supported by nearly £1 million from the Cornwall Council and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Microfibre filters tackle ocean pollution

In 2022, MIN reported on Green technology company Cleaner Seas Group as it launched an investment round to help further develop its filter, which is designed to help tackle microplastic pollution in the world’s oceans. A 2022 study found microplastics in the blood of 80 per cent of people tested.

Today, the group’s microfibre filter technology is being used globally.

Cleaner Seas Group’s technology is already being adopted at scale, including in the travel sector. In 2024, Marella Cruises, part of the TUI Group, became the first cruise line to fit microfibre filters across its entire fleet.

The industry-first rollout is designed to capture tens of thousands of plastic microfibres every week – amounting to an estimated 500kg of microfibre pollution per ship, per year. It sets a new sustainability benchmark for cruise operators worldwide and underlines the versatility and real-world impact of Cleaner Seas’ solution.

With global conversations heating up around plastic pollution, policy shifts on the horizon, and growing public demand for action, Cleaner Seas Group is ready to lead the charge. The Bude facility represents the first step in a wider expansion plan – with a roadmap for future tech development, new sector partnerships, and a bold mission: stop microplastic pollution before it starts.

This mission is echoed by leading voices in ocean conservation. Both Sir David Attenborough and Prince William have repeatedly championed the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems, with Attenborough highlighting ocean plastic as a crisis that can no longer be ignored.

Microplastic recycling: new jobs in Cornwall

The facility has received almost £928,000 of funding from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It represents a major investment in Cornwall’s future and will create green jobs, fuel research and innovation, and put Cornwall at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing.

Cllr Adam Paynter, deputy leader of Cornwall Council, says: “We’re proud to support innovative, purpose-led businesses like Cleaner Seas Group that are placing Cornwall at the forefront of global environmental solutions. This world-first facility is a testament to the kind of bold thinking we need to protect our planet and grow our green economy. It creates high-quality jobs, drives cutting-edge research, and shows that Cornwall can be a leader not just in ambition- but in action.”