The Group takes the lead in developing a unified methodology
Whilst there is real pleasure to be had in sailing, the environmental impact of nautical activities remains a major issue. How can this passion for the sea be reconciled with the need for sustainability? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to measure and identify areas for improvement. Groupe Beneteau is seizing this opportunity and working to harmonise practices in the profession. Nicolas GAULARD, CSR Officer, explains.
What role does LCA play in the Group’s CSR strategy?
The LCA was introduced in 2021 and has enabled us to map the environmental impact of our three market segments (Dayboating, Motor Yachting and Sailing). For each of these families, we took a representative boat and analysed each stage in its life cycle, from design to end-of-life. Group Beneteau wants to be proactive in harmonising the LCA and would like to move the entire sector forward on this issue.
If you had to single out one major advance in this area within the Group in 2024, what would it be?
We have finalised two LCAs: one in the Sailing segment with the Lagoon 46 and the other in the Motor Yachting segment with the Prestige F4.9. It’s a great step forward, because previously we didn’t have a clear picture of these two segments. And now it is possible to identify the phase in the life cycle where the environmental impact occurs.
What solutions are envisaged for the end-of-life of boats (recycling, reuse, etc.)?
This is a very important issue for our Group and our sector! Remember that 70% of a boat is already recycled or reused. When we talk about the end of a boat’s life, after 40 years of use on average, we are primarily talking about its structure: the hull and deck. Groupe Beneteau has chosen to centralise its dismantling process with APER (the pleasure craft dismantling industry). By the time a boat reaches APER, everything that can be salvaged has already been removed – I’m thinking of the deck fittings, winches, pulleys… In general, all that is left is the composite hull. We are working closely with our entire sector to make progress on this issue.
If you had to single out one major advance in this area within the Group in 2024, what would it be?
We have finalized two LCAs: one in the Sailing segment with the Lagoon 46, and the other in the Motor Yachting segment with the Prestige F4.9. This is a great step forward, as we didn’t have a precise picture of these two segments. This allows us to identify the phase in the life cycle where the environmental impact lies.
What are the main raw materials used in boat building?
To build a boat, we have three main families of components:
– the structure, corresponding to the hull and deck. This is made up of composites (materials) with polyester resin and fiberglass reinforcements;
– the interior fittings with wooden bulkheads;
– the system, i.e. everything else including the comfort system and electronic components.
The LCAs we have carried out have enabled us to identify areas where we can work to reduce the environmental impact of our boats.
What initiatives have been put in place to reduce the environmental impact of the boat production phase?
We are deploying alternative resin solutions: Elium®, which is a recyclable resin, as well as resins that are 45% biobased and/or recycled; all our small parts (bonnets, tables, etc.) are now made entirely from 35% biobased resin; work on hybridisation and electrification are also major areas of focus for the Group, as is the production of our boats at ISO 50001-certified sites (energy management model).
How is the environmental impact of boat maintenance assessed?
We estimate the environmental impact of these issues at around 30%. However, as far as maintenance is concerned, we don’t have reliable data at the end of the manufacturer’s warranty, as we don’t have control over this area. We do know that the impact can be significant in terms of CO2.
When it comes to maintenance, there are several issues to consider: water consumption, cleaning and careening, in particular the specific paint we apply to the hull, known as antifouling. This reduces fuel consumption and prevents the transport of invasive species into unsuitable ecosystems. The disadvantage of antifouling is that it is biocide, and therefore has an impact on biodiversity. We are, however, working on raising our customers’ awareness on the subject. Engine maintenance also has an impact, but has the advantage of extending boat life. Environmental impact can sometimes be ambivalent!
In 2024, the Group is rolling out a new "low carbon" resin, made using bio-attributed material. It is being used on five Lagoon models.
Groupe Beneteau’s initiative bears fruit within the EBI
LCA standardisation was one of the key issues for 2024 within the European Boating Industry (EBI). This project, which was initiated by the Group in 2023 with the main players in the sector and the Fédération Industrielle du Nautisme, has led to the development of an initial common methodology. “This enabled us to knock on the door of the EBI and bring European players together around the table. This long process has led to consensus on a number of issues,” says a delighted NicolasGAULARD.
Decarbonisation: Groupe Beneteau refines its scope 3
As the broadest and often most significant category of greenhouse gas emissions for a company, which includes a wide range of emission sources (goods and services purchased, employee travel, transport and distribution of goods, end-of-life of products sold, etc.), scope 3 is a key subject to consider as part of an effective decarbonisation strategy. Although Groupe Beneteau began calculating scope 3 in 2022, an update was carried out in 2024. “Calculating scope 3 provides information on our environmental impact at company level, whereas the LCA specifically assesses the environmental impact of our products,” explains Nicolas GAULARD.
Towards impact reduction with a new low-carbon resin for Lagoon
A 2024 innovation developed with its long-standing partner Polynt, low carbon resin is made from 45% biosourced and recycled materials, i.e. from renewable organic matter (biomass) of plant or animal origin. “This is an important first step for our company and for our sector ,”says Nicolas GAULARD.