The company Sunreef Yachts is now using old PET bottles to build solar-powered luxury boats. 600,000 old plastic bottles are to be recycled for one catamaran alone.
When it comes to climate protection, few of us are likely to think of yachts. The boats often emit many kilograms of carbon dioxide during production. At the same time, they sometimes endanger our maritime ecosystems. The company Sunreef Yachts now wants to polish the industry's reputation.
The company is a leading manufacturer of solar-powered electric boats and recently took another step towards sustainability. The company is now integrating recycled PET bottles into the production process of its solar-powered yachts. Sunreef Yachts has been operating in Gdansk for over 20 years. The company is now setting up a location in the United Arab Emirates.
Sunreef Yachts sees potential of PET bottles for luxury boats
Known for its innovative approaches to sustainable shipping, Sunreef Yachts launched the world's first 22.5-meter luxury catamaran with a flybridge, a raised steering platform often located on the roof of the master cabin. Hundreds of the manufacturer's yachts are currently sailing the seas around the world.
In April 2024, the manufacturer presented a new 40-meter-long electric yacht called “Eco Explorer”. A month later, the company announced a new sustainability strategy that aims to eliminate plastic. The manufacturer wants to integrate hundreds of thousands of PET bottles into the structures of its own electric yachts.
A catamaran requires about 600,000 PET bottles
To this end, the company's research team developed a foam structure made from up to 100 percent recycled PET. By integrating it into the production of its own yachts and sailing catamarans, Sunreef Yachts aims to implement even more environmentally friendly practices in electric yacht construction. This also benefits the company's sustainability goals.
In addition to being 100% recyclable, the recycled thermoplastic cores offer other advantages such as high temperature resistance, exceptional chemical resistance and strong adhesion. Sunreef Yachts emphasizes that a 24-meter sailing catamaran requires about 2.4 tons of the structural foam. This corresponds to approximately 600,000 recycled PET bottles.
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Source: https://www.basicthinking.de/blog/2024/05/29/sunreef-yachts-pet-luxusboote/
