Composite Recycling joins industry leaders to disrupt circular boat manufacturing

Vaud-based cleantech Composite Recycling has partnered with Groupe Beneteau, Veolia, Arkema, Owens Corning, and Chomarat to introduce a circular economy model in boat manufacturing. The initiative marks a significant step toward sustainability in composite materials, with boats now being produced using recycled composites.

Just weeks after delivering its first industrial-scale recycling unit to Veolia RVD Centre-Ouest, Ecublens-based Composite Recycling is taking another major leap forward. Announced at JEC 2025, this partnership with key industry players aims to close the loop on composite waste, making boat production more sustainable while setting a precedent for other industries that rely on composite materials.

Closing the loop in boat manufacturing

This new circular manufacturing model ensures that composite materials are sustainably managed throughout their lifecycle. The process begins with Groupe Beneteau, which integrates Arkema’s Elium® resin, a recyclable composite, into boat manufacturing. During production, Veolia collects composite waste and production scraps from manufacturing sites, preventing them from ending up in landfills.

The next step involves Composite Recycling’s thermolysis technology, which separates the collected materials, recovering glass fibers and thermolysis oil for reuse. These reclaimed materials are then reintegrated into the manufacturing cycle. Arkema processes the recovered oil back into Elium® resin, while Owens Corning and Chomarat refine the extracted fibers into new glass fiber reinforcements.

Finally, Groupe Beneteau incorporates these recycled materials into the production of new boats, successfully closing the loop. This process not only reduces the need for virgin raw materials but also minimizes waste, ensuring a more sustainable future for boatbuilding and setting a precedent for composite manufacturing in other industries.

Beyond the nautical industry

While this collaboration focuses on sustainable boatbuilding, its implications extend far beyond the marine industry. The same model could be applied to automotive, aerospace, wind energy, and construction, helping these industries reduce CO₂ emissions and minimize landfill waste.

“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.”

Arkema’s Guillaume Cledat highlighted the scalability of Elium® resin in circular manufacturing: “We have entered a new era where products are made recyclable by design. This powerful collaboration demonstrates how recycling technologies and innovative materials can work together at an industrial scale.”

Driving innovation through collaboration

Groupe Beneteau’s Erwan Faoucher emphasized that circular boatbuilding is no longer a future aspiration but a tangible reality, already demonstrated in models such as the Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 One Design and the Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60.

Marie Glorennec, Head of Innovation at Veolia Recyclage et Valorisation des Déchets, reinforced the importance of industrial partnerships in enabling better waste treatment solutions.

“We are standing on the shoulders of giants,” added Dr. Pascal Gallo, co-founder of Composite Recycling. “This collaboration accelerates the scale-up of composite recycling technologies, pushing us closer to a circular economy for composites.”

With increasing regulatory pressure on waste management and rising global demand for sustainable manufacturing, this initiative positions Composite Recycling and its partners as leaders in the transition toward a circular future for composite materials.