Innovation and recyclability the focus for sustainable boat makers NLComp

World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award 2020
Finalist: Northern Light Composites (NLComp) (ITA)
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Boat-building materials have long been a topic of discussion within the sailing world, and one company in particular is setting its sights on making the process as sustainable as possible.
 
That company? Northern Light Composites (NLComp), based in Italy.
 
The goal of NLComp is to create a new circular economy for the yachting industry, making sustainable sailing boats with already-used technologies but innovative materials. They believe boats at the end of their lifespan can easily be recycled or reused, and are investigating the means in which to do this.
 
To achieve this, they are testing natural fibres, such as flax, bamboo or cellulose, in a thermoplastic resin to obtain a new kind of sustainable composite. This will provide a strong and realistic alternative to common fiberglass, with comparable mechanical properties in order to replace it without introducing drastic changes for ship builders.
 
The thermoplastic resin guarantees the complete recyclability of the composite at the end of life or its reuse by thermoshaping. Additionally, the energy to produce these natural fibres is much less than normal, meaning the overall carbon footprint of making boats in this way is a lot smaller.
 
With smart design and engineering, NLComp aim to reduce the weight of the boats and consequently reduce the materials used, in order to satisfy the 3Rs concept (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Combined with the already sustainable hull, they also want to reduce pollution during navigation, implementing an all-electric engine and the use of renewable energy.
 
Aiming to recycle 90% of boats and reduce boat building waste by 50% by 2030, NLComp want to demonstrate that a good boat does not necessarily have to be expensive or potentially harmful to the environment, and are looking into additional technologies to further reduce emissions and promote the recyclability of boat-building materials.
 
NLComp are finalists for this year’s World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award. The Award celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly-replicable sustainability initiatives, aligned to World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030. A prize of $10,000 USD is up for grabs to assist the winner in funding future sustainability initiatives.
 
For the first time in the Award’s history, the public will be invited to vote for their favourite initiative. Click here to vote for NLComp. Voting closes 4 December.