Industrial Alliance unveils circular model for nautical construction

Industrial Alliance unveils circular model for nautical construction © Beneteau Group

Industry leaders have joined forces to revolutionize boat manufacturing with a circular economy model, so that boats can now be built using recycled materials.

This pioneering collaboration to achieve circularity in boat production, launched in Western France, offers a model for composite sustainability.

This breakthrough initiative unites various global leaders in their field:

• Groupe Beneteau, world's leading manufacturer of sailing and motorboats.
• Veolia, global leader in waste management and environmental services.
• Composite Recycling, pioneer in recycling composite waste.
• Arkema, a world player in specialty materials.
• Owens Corning, pioneer in glass reinforcements innovation.
• Chomarat, specialist in technical textiles and composite reinforcements.

A sustainable future for composite manufacturing

For sailors and boat enthusiasts, this initiative lays the groundwork for a sustainable future, with boats built from recycled materials to reduce the sport's environmental impact.

Beyond the marine industry, this collaboration demonstrates how circular manufacturing can be applied across industries reliant on composites, including automotive, aerospace, wind energy, and construction. By diverting waste from landfills and conserving resources, this effort sets a high standard for composite sustainability as the industry works to reduce CO2 emissions.

Closing the loop

This collaboration establishes a new benchmark for circular manufacturing in the nautical industry:

• Production: Groupe Beneteau incorporates recyclable composite materials, including Arkema's Elium® resin, into boat manufacturing.
• Reuse: Groupe Beneteau incorporates the recycled Elium® resin and fiberglass into the manufacture of new boats, closing the loop.
• Reintegration: Arkema transforms the thermolysis oil into new Elium® resin, while Owens Corning produces new glass fibers and Chomarat produces new fiberglass reinforcements.
• Recycling: Composite Recycling uses its next generation thermolysis technology to separate and recycle the scraps into reclaimed glass fibers and thermolysis oil.
• Waste Collection: Veolia gathers composite production scraps and brings them to their site in Western France for recycling.

Watch the video presentation of this industrial alliance

"Sailing has always been a part of my life, so I'm especially proud that the first application of our industrial unit is within the marine industry," said Guillaume Perben, co-Founder of Composite Recycling. "But this isn't just about sustainable boatbuilding—it's a proof of concept for every industry that uses composites."

"Elium® resin was designed to make composites recyclable, and this initiative showcases how it works at scale," said Guillaume Cledat, Arkema Global Business Manager. "By combining Elium resin with innovative recycling technologies, we're laying the foundation for a circular economy in composites."

"This collective approach is a decisive step in our commitment to accessible and sustainable boating. Our Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 One Design models and, more recently, Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60 perfectly illustrate that circular manufacturing in the nautical sector is no longer a simple goal, but a tangible reality," says Erwan Faoucher, Vice President Innovation & Sustainable Development of Groupe Beneteau. "Once again in our history, we are showing audacity. The use of recycled resin reduces CO2 emissions by 70% compared to conventional polyester from the market. Whereas in the past we made boats that were built to last, today we are able to design sustainable boats."

"Transforming glass waste into circular content is a key element of Owens Corning's sustainability strategy, and our competitive advantage in the composites industry," said Chris Skinner, Vice President of Glass Reinforcements Strategic Marketing and R&D at Owens Corning. "This project provides a powerful demonstration of how we are unlocking our ability to achieve circularity for our customers, our industry, and the world we share."

"At Veolia, we are always working to develop innovative and sustainable solutions through industrial collaborations," said Marie Glorennec, Head of Innovation at Veolia Recyclage et Valorisation des Déchets Centre-Ouest. "Thanks to these new advances in recycling technology, we're proud to be able to provide our clients with better waste treatment alternatives that drive circularity in the composites industry."

"Chomarat is committed to advancing composite sustainability while maintaining the highest standards of performance," said Vincent Cholvy, Head of Glass Composites at Chomarat. "This project showcases how recycled fibers can be seamlessly reintegrated into new high-quality materials, helping industries move toward circularity."

"We have entered a new era where products are made recyclable by design, and this powerful collaboration is a prime example. Working alongside such large and visionary partners is a huge opportunity for us," said Dr. Pascal Gallo, co-Founder of Composite Recycling. "It feels like we are standing on the shoulders of giants and makes the scale-up journey of Composite Recycling faster and more impactful. Together, we're leading the way towards a circular economy for composites."