Industrial Alliance to disrupt boatbuilding with circular model

Composite Recycling is on a roll lately. Just a few weeks after delivering its first industrial-scale recycling unit to Veolia RVD Centre-Ouest site in France, the Ecublens-based cleantech, headed by Guillaume Perben and Dr. Pascal Gallo, announces at JEC 2025 a breakthrough initiative uniting various global leaders in their field to revolutionize boat manufacturing with a circular model.

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

A collective approach going beyond boatbuilding

 “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.

“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 Valorisaiton 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.”

"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. "

(PR - ES)