Sunreef Yachts, renowned for its solar electric boats and sustainability efforts in the maritime industry, is now incorporating recycled PET bottles into its yacht production process, marking a significant step towards greener practices.
Based in Gdansk, Poland, and with a growing presence in the United Arab Emirates, Sunreef Yachts has been a pioneer in sustainable marine travel since its inception in 2002. The company made waves by launching the world’s first 74-foot luxury oceangoing catamaran with a flybridge.
With hundreds of its eco-friendly boats traversing waters globally, Sunreef Yachts boasts a lineup of sustainable, all-electric propulsion systems and advanced solar panels. Its portfolio includes environmentally conscious sailboats and massive solar electric catamarans ranging from 60 to 100 meters in length.
In April 2024, Sunreef unveiled its latest offering, the 40m electric yacht Eco Explorer. Shortly after, the company announced a new sustainability strategy that involves integrating hundreds of thousands of recycled PET bottles into the superstructures of its electric yachts.
Sunreef Yachts Eco’s R&D team will utilize a structural foam made of up to 100% recycled PET materials in the production of its solar electric yachts and sailing catamarans. This initiative aims to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability in the production of electric yachts.
According to Sunreef, the recycled thermoplastic core not only contributes to sustainability but also offers several benefits, including high resistance to process temperatures, exceptional chemical resistance, strong adhesion, and other mechanical properties.
The impact of this initiative is significant. For example, Sunreef highlighted that one of its 80-foot sailing catamarans requires approximately 2.4 tons of the recycled structural foam, equivalent to about 600,000 recycled PET bottles being repurposed for yacht construction instead of adding to pollution in the oceans.
This move underscores Sunreef’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sets a promising precedent for the industry, suggesting that large boats can be not only 100% electric but also potentially 100% recyclable.
