Circular economy pioneer in Metstrade Construction Materials Zone

Chomarat is working with Groupe Beneteau, Veolia, Composite Recycling, Arkema and Owens Corning to create a circular economy for GRP marine construction. Early beneficiaries of the lower carbon impact of this scheme include the Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 One Design, Beneteau Oceanis 60 and, most recently, the Excess 11 catamaran which now uses recyclable and low carbon resins and 45 per cent recycled glass fibres.

This industrial alliance was named Sustainability Project of the Year at last year’s IBI Metstrade Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement. The judges stated: “This initiative harnesses powerhouses in the field of composites and material recycling and is arguably one of the most important sustainability projects we have seen in the history of the awards.”

The Industrial Alliance in action

The circular model works as follows:

•    Waste Collection: Veolia gathers composite production scraps and brings them to its site in Western France for recycling. 
•    Recycling: Composite Recycling uses its next generation pyrolysis technology to separate and recycle the scraps into reclaimed glass fibres and oil. 
•    Reintegration: Arkema transforms the oil into its Elium recycled resin product. Owens Corning produces new glass fibres and Chomarat utlises that output to produce new fibreglass reinforcements from that material.

•    Production and reuse: Groupe Beneteau incorporates recyclable composite materials, including Arkema's Elium resin and mat containing recycled fibres, into boat manufacturing, closing the loop.

In an update in June of this year Groupe Beneteau reported it had already utilised 12.6 metric tons of Elium resin in the construction of new boats and 14 metric tons of recycled and natural fibres thanks to another collaboration with Chomarat using its glass/hemp hybrid product TER²A MAT. The estimated CO2 savings from the use of resin alone are 70 per cent.

Previous experience in weaving recycled fibres

Chomarat’s supply of recycled GRP mat to Groupe Beneteau pre-dated the establishment of the industrial alliance by at least two years, forming in effect the first links in the chain. Chomarat was already working closely with Swiss company Composite Recycling soon after this 2021 start-up got its first processing unit into action. An initiative that was recognised as the Boat Builder Award’s Sustainability Project of the Year in 2023.

Composite Recycling’s mobile plant is carried within a 30ft container capable of being transported by standard waste disposal trucks. It recovers the fibres using the pyrolysis process. The vapour that is given off in the oxygen free chamber is condensed to recover oil which can be used to make new resin or other substances. Gas, another product of the process, is used to power the plant, partially or completely.

The plant can process large pieces of waste GRP – with an eventual processing target of six tons per day. As a result, recovered fibres are potentially as large as the item recycled, rather than chopped up, enabling them to be rewoven.  This also enables the plant to use a mix of sources, from chopped up old hull and superstructures, to manufacturing scrap and old mould tools. This is significant as anywhere between 10-30 per cent of the laminate used to create a boat can wind up in the scrap bin due to trimming and cutouts. The ratio of what material emerges from the pyrolysis process will depend on what is fed in. Pre-1990s vessels have a much higher ratio of resin to glass compared to mouldings made using modern infusion techniques.

Commitment to sustainability

Speaking about the launch of the alliance Business Unit Manager, Vincent Cholvy, said: “Chomarat is committed to advancing composite sustainability while maintaining the highest standards of performance.  “This project is an important demonstration of our ability to provide tangible recyclability solutions benefiting our operations, our customers, and our industry's collective goal of achieving end-of-life circularity.”

Chomarat will be located on stand 11.306 within the Construction Materials Zone in Hall 11 at Metstrade 2026.

About the Construction Materials Zone

Metstrade’s Construction Materials Zone provides a key focal point for builders, designers, and engineers to engage with raw material suppliers and discover cutting-edge innovations, including sustainable composites, bonding technologies, coatings, and 3D printing. Located in the newly designed Hall 11, visitors will discover a unique area containing nearly 100 stands dedicated to the art and science of construction materials. See metstrade.com/zones/construction-materials-zone for more information.

About the Boat Builder Awards

Step from Metstrade straight into Amsterdam’s most exclusive dinner date.
Wednesday 18 November is the date to save for the 2026 Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, jointly organised by IBI and METSTRADE, in association with Teledyne Raymarine. This fine celebration of achievement will be held in the dedicated Harbour 8 facility adjacent to Hall 8, in the heart of Metstrade. 

Tickets are on sale now – visit https://www.ibinews.com/bba2026/tickets to ensure your reservation.