Aware of the environmental impact of its activities, Groupe Beneteau is committed to identifying, controlling and reducing it.
This involves implementing action plans at all our sites (reduction of air emissions, waste reduction, eco-design of boats and accommodation, protection of biodiversity, etc.).
The 2023 Sustainability Performance Report shows in details the actions taken by Groupe Beneteau and its subsidiaries.
A few figures:
- 100% of the Boat Division’s French sites are ISO 9001 (quality), 140001 (environmental management) and 50001 (energy performance) certified.
- 95% of materials used in the housing division are recyclable
360° approach on 7 key areas
1. Eco-design
The life-cycle analysis of our boats enables us to identify and measure the various environmental impacts associated with their design, production, use over 30 years and dismantling, in order to formulate eco-design proposals for future new models. The Group is committed to standardizing this life-cycle analysis method for the yachting industry, in partnership with the French Nautical Industries Federation (FIN) and the European Boating Industry (EBI).
2. Construction
As part of its ISO 14001 (environmental management) and 50001 (energy performance) certifications, SPBI has set itself the target of reducing acetone consumption by 10%, hazardous waste generation by 3% and non-hazardous waste generation by 3% per hour worked.
Between 2022 and 2023, emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per hour worked will fall by 5% compared with the previous year, thanks to the development of injection and infusion techniques, the substitution of resins and bonding coatings by low-styrene products, lower acetone consumption and the use of water-based varnishes for wood.
The energy efficiency of production sites has been improved, reducing energy-related CO2 emissions by 6% last year. In 4 years, this represents a gain of over 20% in energy performance.
For the Boat Division, the rate of recovery and recycling of non-hazardous waste is 83% in France, an improvement of 20% over 2 years.
3. Raw materials and purchases
The main resources used by the Boat business are parapetroleum products (composite materials used for hulls, decks and small parts) and wood (interior fittings).
The Group is pursuing actions aimed at controlling and reducing the use of resins and gel coats, which has led to a reduction of almost 10% in VOC emissions (g per hour worked) between 2021 and 2023 in France. Most of the wood used comes from eco-managed forests, and is PEFC or FSC certified. The Group’s cabinet makers have set up action plans to optimize cutting plans, reduce consumption and scrap, and recycle all wood waste.
4. Use and maintenance conditions
A significant proportion of a boat’s environmental impact is linked to its use and maintenance. Groupe Beneteau teams worked together to define awareness-raising actions for yachtsmen. Good maintenance practices have been added to the maintenance manual for customers and dealers.
5. Deconstruction
Groupe Beneteau has launched a study into the recyclability of its boats, in connection with the establishment in France of the yacht dismantling industry.
As of December 31, 2023, 9969 boats have been deconstructed since the launch of APER in 2019, including nearly 3,000 in 2023 alone.
Find out more about the deconstruction sector with the French eco-organization APER at aper.asso.fr
6. Internal transport
With a network of 9 production sites in the Vendée region, supply chain teams have set up an indicator of the number of kilometers covered by internal shuttles, so as to be able to integrate this parameter into industrial decision-making.
7. Employee engagement
It’s the key to changing behavior. Carpooling, limiting the use of single-use plastics, composting food waste from company restaurants – the initiatives are numerous and local. Numerous workshops have been deployed within the boats division, including the Climate Fresco and 2 Tons workshops.
Our commitment to more sustainable and accessible boating
Our commitment to more sustainable and accessible boating
We, Groupe Beneteau, men and women, are committed every day throughout the world to bringing the dreams of as many people as possible onto the water. This is our mission: Bringing Dreams to Water.
As a major player in the marine industry, reducing our environmental footprint is a daily challenge. We act to have a positive impact on those around us: employees, customers, partners, territories, sailors, family, sea lovers, fishermen… But we want to go further, together.
The future of the oceans, the lungs of humanity, is a priority for us all. That’s why we need to question our model to accelerate the transformation of a sector and an entire industry.
We need to sustainably change the way we experience and enjoy recreational boating. We don’t want to impose change on boating practices. We want to make it possible. That’s why we’re taking action to pave the way for sustainable, accessible boating.
Boating that is inspired by our customers’ dreams, and that mobilizes us to protect the oceans and their biodiversity.
That’s why we’re committed to the Posidonia Alliance, founded in June 2023, in a collective drive to promote, communicate and take action to preserve Posidonia in the Mediterranean.
Why is it so important to preserve Posidonia in the Mediterranean?
What is Posidonia and why is it essential to marine biodiversity?
Posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) is an emblematic aquatic plant of the Mediterranean, forming meadows that are essential to the marine ecosystem.
These meadows provide numerous ecosystem services, such as protecting beaches against erosion, capturing CO2, creating habitats for marine fauna and flora, and reducing wave force.
Why is Posidonia under threat today?
These meadows are under pressure from coastal development, global warming and overfishing.
What is being done to protect it?
To protect Posidonia, regulatory measures have been adopted, notably to regulate anchoring zones.
The Alliance Posidonia has been set up to raise awareness and mobilize the various players involved in Posidonia preservation, with a particular focus on yachtsmen and professionals in the nautical industry. Posidonia is legally protected in France by the 1976 Nature Protection Act.
The Groupe Beneteau and its 9 Boat Division brands mobilize their customers and employees to protect the Posidonia
Because of the boats we build, we are by definition close to the sea. The oceans are feeling the impact of global warming. Protecting the biodiversity of marine ecosystems is a necessity, a collective challenge for all lovers of nature and the sea.
That’s why we believe it’s vital to involve all our stakeholders in respecting biodiversity and preserving marine ecosystems.
The Groupe Beneteau is mobilizing with the support of its 9 Boat Division brands: BENETEAU, JEANNEAU, LAGOON, PRESTIGE, EXCESS, DELPHIA, FOUR WINNS, WELLCRAFT, SCARAB.
Our commitment is based on the provision of educational information via our communication channels to our dealers and yachtsmen for the protection of Posidonia. e. In a second phase, we are planning training courses for our customers and collaborators to promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly boating practices.
B-SUSTAINABLE, our CSR strategy, commits us fully to the goal of reducing our CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030.
We are convinced that, together, we can transform our sector and our industry. We owe it to ourselves, to our environment and to future generations.
This is what will keep sea lovers dreaming in the future.
Sustainable, responsible and accessible boating.
A responsible commitment since 2005
At O’HARA since 2005, joined by IRM in 2008, we track each stage in the leisure home product life. Our leisure homes can be fully recycled and they are benefiting from advances with eco-design to reduce their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. The Housing division’s production sites are located as closely as possible to customers.
1. Measuring and reducing leisure homes’ impacts
“Eco-profile” is the metrics tool developed by the Housing division to measure the impact of leisure homes and continuously improve their design. This dedicated rating system is based on 70 environmental criteria and tracks leisure homes throughout their lives. “Eco-profile” enables the product development teams to determine the impact of each product range and improve its eco-design criteria.
2. Choosing healthy materials
The construction process for our leisure homes is inspired by the French standard DTU31.2 for the construction of timber-frame buildings and houses. The linoleum used is A+ rated for indoor air emissions. The timber used for the vast majority of our products is sourced from environmentally-managed forests. The foam mattresses are Oeko Tex certified for their guaranteed recyclability and recoverability (e.g. for technical insulation or anti-shock protection). Whenever possible, we are committed to buying recycled materials for our wetrooms, gutters and cladding corner pieces.
3. Guaranteeing safety
Certified in line with the EN1647 European standard, our leisure homes are subject to 180 checkpoints ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements. The certificate of compliance is issued for each model by an independent body.
4. Reducing consumption over the year
We target all possible reductions for our leisure homes:
- in terms of water, thanks to dual-flush systems and flow regulators,
- in terms of electricity, by choosing A+ rated equipment,
- using LEDs for all internal lighting and energy-efficient bulbs for outdoors.
We provide advice for the campsite management to help them set up centralized technical management systems covering all of their site (restaurants, washrooms, aquatic areas, leisure homes, etc.). These centralized management systems make it possible to control equipment to optimize its use and reduce energy consumption.
5. Protecting and safeguarding natural sites
Many campsites are located at remarkable natural sites, with outstanding environmental features. Today, virtually all campsites in France have signed up to the French national guidelines for landscape integration for campsites.
6. Ensuring the deconstruction of leisure homes at the end of their lives
Thanks to Eco Mobil-Home, the French eco-organization for leisure homes, both commercial and retail owners have access to an established channel for processing and recovering the waste resulting from the deconstruction of their leisure homes.