Aware of the environmental impacts of its activities, Groupe Beneteau is committed to identifying, controlling and reducing them.
The action plans are rolled out across all its sites (reducing air emissions, cutting waste, adopting an eco-design approach for boats and housing units, protecting biodiversity, etc.).
The 2021 Sustainability Performance Report shows in details the actions taken by Groupe Beneteau and its subsidiaries.
Some key figures:
- 100% of SPBI sites are ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 50001 (energy performance) certified
- 95% of the materials used in leisure homes are recyclable
1. Eco-design
Analyzing the lifecycle of our boats makes it possible to identify and measure the various environmental impacts linked to their design, production, use over 40 years and deconstruction in order to map out eco-design proposals for future new models.
2. Construction
In connection with its ISO 14001 (environmental management) and 50001 (energy performance) certification, French subsidiary SPBI aims to reduce acetone consumption by 10%, hazardous waste generation by 3% and non-hazardous waste by 3% per hour worked.
In 2018-19, volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions were reduced by 7% compared to the previous year, thanks to the development of injection and infusion techniques, the substitution of resins and adhesives by low-styrene products and the reduction of acetone and varnish consumption.
The production sites have improved their energy efficiency, reducing their CO2 emissions linked to energy consumption by 2% last year. In 4 years, energy performance has been improved by 28%.
The non-hazardous waste recovery and recycling rate represents 74% and is continuing to progress each year.
3. Raw materials and purchases
The main resources used by the Boat business are petroleum-based products (composite materials used for hulls, decks and small parts) and timber (interior fittings).
The Group is continuing to move forward with its actions to effectively manage and reduce resin and gelcoat use, making it possible to achieve a 10% reduction in 2018-19.
The majority of the timber used is sourced from environmentally-managed forests and is PEFC or FSC certified. The Group’s woodwork units have put in place action plans to optimize their cutting plans, reduce consumption and waste, and recover all timber waste.
4. Use and maintenance conditions
A significant part of a boat’s environmental impacts is linked to its use and maintenance conditions. Groupe Beneteau’s teams have worked together to map out actions to build awareness among recreational boat users. Maintenance best practices have been added to the maintenance handbook for customers and dealers.
5. Deconstruction
Groupe Beneteau has launched a study into the recyclability of its boats, in line with the creation of the deconstruction sector for recreational boats in France.
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 Vendée (France), the supply chain teams have set up an indicator to track the mileage covered by our in-house shuttle services to be able to integrate this parameter when taking industrial decisions.
7. Employee engagement
This is crucial in order to be able to change our behaviors. From promoting car sharing to limiting single-use plastics and composting food waste from our company restaurants, we have a wide range of local initiatives.
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 and are following the ISO 14001 approach.
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.