All the ECO Yachts will be produced in such a way as to not alter the natural balance of CO2, methane and other climate-changing gases.
The founders of ECO Yachts are the visionaries behind nlcomp - the creators and patent-holders of the recyclable composite material rComposite, which will be used in all of the brand's boats. The boats will be manufactured in Monfalcone, Italy and a second ecoracer30 is currently in production (with delivery scheduled for the end of October 2023).
During the Genoa International Boat Show, ECO Yachts received an honourable mention in the Design Innovation Awards for “demonstrating what it means to take a prototype and move it into industrial production, using experimental techniques and sustainable materials.”
Fabio Bignolini said: "After the launch of the ecoracer30, we believed it was time to introduce a brand dedicated to sustainable boats. We will manufacture these boats by applying the expertise our team gained during the development of rComposite and the production of our first prototypes. In addition to using a recyclable composite material, we have taken a further step towards comprehensive sustainability. This includes the use of recyclable molds, state-of-the-art sails, and advanced propulsion systems."
The philosophy of the range
The hulls of these boats will be designed with the aim of facilitating end-of-life dismantling, following the principle of 'designing for disassembly'. Thanks to the adoption of rComposite technology, it will be possible to recycle and give a second life to the composite material used to build the hulls.
Every aspect of the design process, including the selection of materials, will be aimed at minimizing weight to allow for optimal sailing in all conditions and to reduce the use of engines. Onboard, the equipment and systems will be powered by renewable sources: solar, hydraulic and wind energy. The use of solar panels is now widespread on many sailing yachts and catamarans, and hydro-generation is finding more and more applications. This is a system in which the electric motor, powered by the motion of the water, recharges the on-board batteries.
Fabio Bignolini looks further ahead, announcing, "with ECO Yachts, we will also enter the world of motorboats. We are planning a new line, the first model of which will be a foiling boat with electric propulsion, specially designed as a tender for megayachts. Everything will be designed, engineered and produced in Italy."
Reducing and offsetting emissions
The climate-neutral strategy for the ECO Yachts models has been verified by the independent verification body Climate Standard. The assessment covers the entire production process, from the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of the boat to the customer, ensuring that all emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases will be offset.
As part of their company philosophy that considers transparency essential for sustainability, ECO Yachts will make these certifications public. This means that not only the company's customers, but also industry enthusiasts will be able to access data on polluting gas emissions and monitor the progress of emission reduction projects.
Pietro Spataro, CEO of Climate Standard, explains, 'The European Commission issued a proposal for a directive in March that highlighted the illegality of self-declarations in environmental sustainability, thus necessitating a third-party verification body. In addition to being in line with European directives, involving a dedicated company to verify this status also means being credible towards the customer. In fact, a survey has shown that 60% of consumers do not consider companies' green self-declarations to be reliable."
rComposite and the future of nlcomp
The patented rComposite technology, developed by nlcomp and available for licensing by any shipyard, is finding applications in various sectors. Currently, it's being used to prototype wind turbine blades and components for other industries such as cooling tower elements.
NLcomp's mission will stay consistent with what it has been until now: to address the challenge of end-of-life glass fiber composites and promote a new circular economy in the composites industry.
To achieve this, nlcomp will continue to develop rComposite and explore its potential applications, whilst ECO Yachts is dedicated to turning the often-abused concept of sustainable yachting into a reality.
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