Marine waste found in deep-sea environments shows a high degree of degradation. This leads to the loss of its original physico-mechanical properties, making recycling through conventional mechanical processes difficult and limiting its reintroduction into the plastics value chain. To provide an effective alternative for recycling this waste, the Oceanzyme project is investigating new enzymatic recycling solutions for marine litter.
The initiative, which will run from 2026 to 2028, is being carried out by a consortium comprising the Plastics Technology Centre AIMPLAS, the Institute of Marine Sciences, and the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia of the CSIC and is coordinated by the Vertidos Cero Association.Â
The project started at the end of January 2026 and is being developed in collaboration with the Biodiversity Foundation of the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge through the Pleamar Programme. It is also co-funded by the European Union through EMFAF (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund).
Oceanzyme adopts an integrated approach combining metagenomic analyses, enzymatic characterisation and molecular simulations, together with the isolation of bacteria with functional degradation capabilities. The aim is to valorize marine litter collected by fishers through enzymatic recycling and to explore the application of the resulting products in sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture.
To this end, passive fishing campaigns will be carried out in two of Spain’s five marine regions, the North Atlantic and the Levantine-Balearic regions — where average densities range from 40 to 300 items per km² — in order to remove marine litter. The plastic waste collected will be characterised to analyse its associated microbial communities through metagenomics.Â
At the same time, pure culture isolations of bacteria with the potential to degrade different plastic compounds will be carried out. In addition, enzymes with degradation potential will be identified, modelled in 3D together with the plastic substrates, produced and tested to validate their possible use in enzymatic recycling applications.
The project brings together the expertise of all participating organisations in waste removal protocols, marine microorganism studies, molecular simulations and plastic recycling. Oceanzyme promotes the circular economy, the protection of the marine environment and technology transfer through a strong communication and dissemination strategy.
