Hydro and Vaan Unite to Pioneering Sustainable Solutions in Yachting

Hydro and Vaan Unite to Pioneering Sustainable Solutions in Yachting

(IN BRIEF) Hydro has renewed its partnership with Dutch yacht builder Vaan Yachts BV to advance sustainability in the yachting industry. Building on five years of collaboration, the two companies have signed a letter of intent to develop sheet materials for Vaan’s premium catamarans, incorporating the maximum achievable amount of recycled post-consumer scrap. They aim to achieve a carbon footprint of no more than 2 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of aluminium by 2025, which is significantly lower than the global average for primary aluminium production. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to circularity and responsible sourcing, addressing the environmental challenges posed by the disposal of recreational boats. Vaan’s focus on using fully recyclable aluminium aligns with its philosophy of creating luxury catamarans that minimize environmental impact without sacrificing performance.

(PRESS RELEASE) OSLO, 9-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Hydro, a leader in aluminium and renewable energy, has reaffirmed its partnership with Dutch yacht builder Vaan Yachts BV, aiming to redefine sustainability within the yachting sector. This collaboration, which builds on their successful five-year relationship, includes a new letter of intent focused on developing sheet materials for Vaan’s premium catamarans that incorporate the highest possible proportion of recycled post-consumer scrap. The ambitious goal is to achieve a carbon footprint of no more than 2 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of aluminium by 2025, significantly lower than the global average for primary aluminium production.

Hanne Karine Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal, commented, “To lead the green aluminium transition, Hydro must collaborate with progressive customers who share our vision. Partnering with Vaan provides an excellent opportunity to innovate low-carbon solutions and help them fulfill their vision of a circular product line. Together, we are making waves in promoting sustainability within yachting.”

The signing of the new agreement took place on September 26 in Hellevoetsluis, the Netherlands, where Vaan CEO and co-founder Igor Kluin joined Hydro’s Vice President Thomas Hartmut Ludwig for the occasion.

In Europe, approximately 80,000 recreational boats reach the end of their lifecycle each year. Unfortunately, the majority of these vessels, constructed primarily from composite materials like fiberglass, lack effective recycling mechanisms. This situation presents significant environmental challenges. Vaan Yachts is committed to addressing these issues by creating a fully circular sailing solution using only recycled and recyclable materials, aligning with a responsible lifestyle that minimizes environmental impact.

Kluin emphasized the importance of aluminium in their catamarans: “We choose aluminium not only for its strength and low maintenance but also for its full recyclability. Our yachts contribute to a sustainable future without sacrificing performance, quality, or comfort. We want our customers to leave only their footprints on the beach.”

Aluminium is unique in its ability to be remelted infinitely without losing the qualities that make it ideal for marine applications, such as lightness, rigidity, and corrosion resistance. Each Vaan yacht utilizes between 6,000 and 10,000 kilograms of aluminium sourced from Hydro, which provides both rolled sheets and extrusions. Hydro’s low-carbon aluminium comes with proof of origin, ensuring batch traceability and a documented carbon footprint.

Simensen noted, “Our collaboration with Vaan is grounded in a shared commitment to responsible sourcing and a willingness to pioneer innovative solutions. By maintaining this trajectory, we can amplify our impact and effect real change. Vaan exemplifies how niche companies can disrupt conventional thinking about circularity and sustainable living.”

Vaan Yachts, co-founded by Kluin and Nienke van ‘t Klooster in 2016, focuses on producing luxury sailing catamarans while adhering to principles of circular economy and sustainability. The design of their yachts minimizes environmental impact while ensuring high levels of comfort and performance.

Growing international awareness of the need for responsible boat disposal is evident, with the European Commission’s 2016 study on nautical tourism highlighting end-of-life boats as a significant environmental threat and a challenge for the nautical industry. It estimates that at least 80,000 boats reach the end of their lifecycle each year in the European Union, with only a small fraction being recycled, primarily due to the complexities of dismantling composite materials.

Aluminium’s infinite recyclability makes it a vital component in the green transition. Post-consumer aluminium scrap—derived from beverage cans, car parts, and other products—has a near-zero carbon footprint, as emissions are accounted for in its lifecycle. Therefore, increasing the use of recycled content in aluminium is crucial for accelerating emission reductions.

One of the key challenges in using high levels of recycled content lies in achieving the precise mixture of scrap qualities that meet specific alloy requirements for the end product. To address this, Hydro collaborates with select customers to drive innovation and explore low-carbon aluminium applications across various industries.

Additional information

• Founded by Igor Kluin and Nienke van ‘t Klooster in 2016, Dutch company Vaan Yachts, is focused on creating luxury sailing catamarans while operating on the principles of circular economy and sustainability. Their yachts are designed to minimize environmental impact without compromising on comfort and performance.
• International awareness of the need for responsible disposal of recreational boats is increasing. In the European Commission’s Study on Nautical Tourism from 2016, end-of-life boats are mentioned as an environmental threat and one of the main challenges for the nautical industry, indicating that at least 80,000 boats reach their “end-of-life” each year in the European Union alone. However, only a fraction is recycled, partly due to the complexity of dismantling craft mainly made of composite materials.
• Aluminium is infinitely recyclable without loss of the properties that make it an important enabler for the green transition. Post-consumer aluminium scrap has lived a past life as beverage cans, windows, car parts or other consumer products, and comes with a carbon footprint close to zero since emissions have already been accounted for. This is why recycling more post-consumer scrap is vital to accelerate emission cuts.
• When using a high proportion of recycled content in aluminium, the main challenge is to put together a very precise mixture of scrap qualities that meet the specific alloy requirements of the intended end product. Hydro has partnered up with select customers to drive innovation and explore the application of low-carbon aluminium solutions across industries.

Media Contact:

Jens Christian Boysen
Communication Manager, Hydro Aluminium Metal
jens.christian.boysen@hydro.com
+47 94982099

SOURCE: Norsk Hydro ASA