amu

Based in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, amu Inc. is a company focused on repurposing discarded fishing gear into new materials and products. Established in May 2023 by CEO Kodai Kato, the company aims to solve the environmental and financial burdens placed on fishermen by waste fishing nets. Kato, after leaving university, joined CyberAgent Inc. and later moved to Kesennuma in 2019, where he became interested in upcycling fishing nets. The name "amu" is derived from the Japanese word for "weave," reflecting the company's mission to transform perceived waste into valuable resources.

Amu operates by purchasing used fishing nets from ports across Japan, which are then sorted and processed into a new material brand called amuca®. This regenerated nylon material, created through a chemical recycling process, is designed to match the quality of virgin materials and is sold as pellets and fabrics to manufacturers in various industries, including apparel and furniture. In a joint initiative with UBE Corporation, the recycled material has been used to create uniforms for the Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium. This business model not only provides a solution to marine pollution from "ghost nets" but also creates economic opportunities for fishing communities.

The company's business model is built on the principles of a circular economy. Beyond selling the recycled amuca® material, amu also engages in product planning and sales, developing its own branded products and collaborating with customers on their product ideas. Materials that cannot be chemically recycled are repurposed into items like "Sustainable Tile". Amu has received investments from firms such as ANRI, UBE Corporation, and ANOBAKA.

Keywords: fishing net recycling, regenerated nylon, circular economy, sustainable materials, amuca, marine plastic pollution, ghost nets, Japanese fishing industry, upcycling, material science, environmental technology, waste valorization, sustainable fashion, corporate social responsibility, Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Kodai Kato, UBE Corporation, chemical recycling, textile innovation