Ecoplas Barbanza was founded at the end of 2005 to produce extruded plastic nets mainly for mussel farming and packaging. "At the time, there were very few companies in the sector. We focused on mussel farming because of our proximity to both the industry and the sea," says María Saborido, the company's operations manager. Over the years, however, the company has diversified its focus and expanded into other areas, such as agriculture, and is now a leading company in this field.

Ecoplas specialises in providing solutions for both cultivation and packaging. Its commitment to innovation has led it to create innovative and differentiating products in the market. "The commitment to R&D has always been in our DNA. Our director, José Peleteiro, has instilled this in us, which is why we are pioneers in the production of biodegradable and compostable nets, first and foremost for the agricultural sector and then for the marine sector," explains Saborido. "In 2012, when there was little or no talk of compostable products, we carried out our first project which focused on more sustainable nets with less environmental impact," she explains.

Ecoplas has a strong presence in the agricultural and marine sectors. Its products are sold in a wide range of geographical markets, including the United States, Central America, France, Italy, Portugal and, of course, Spain.

A commitment to sustainability

The circular economy is a fundamental pillar at Ecoplas, which for several years has been taking important steps to focus on the creative recycling of plastic and taking advantage of the transformative opportunities it offers. "Most of our projects focus on the idea of circularity," says María Saborido. One example is the Netcycle project, in which Ecoplas recovers its own waste and gives it a second life. In fact, she says, "at the moment we are already working beyond that, and we are not only transforming our own waste, but we are also working with waste from other companies. We turn waste into street furniture, boardwalks, etc.," she explains.

Netcycle is a 100% circular and sustainable material, developed with the intention of replacing virgin raw materials such as wood, plastic, plasterboard, Silestone, Corian, etc. It is made from any type of plastic waste, which is then subjected to an industrial process that allows the creation of any type of product. Design transforms waste into unique pieces, giving them added value. This material also gives visibility and impact to the actions that companies and organisations are taking to preserve the environment.

In the short term, Ecoplas wants to expand the Netcycle project and make it an independent unit within the company. María Saborido points out that they hope that this initiative, which is currently a small part of Ecoplas, will become a division that operates independently, without relying on the parent company.

Finalists in the 2022 Innovation and Design Awards, which are promoted by the Regional Government of Galicia through the Galician Agency for Innovation, Ecoplas have several innovative materials in the Materioteca de Galicia, such as the aforementioned Netcycle, Biovege and Ecobiocompost.