Sailing towards circularity: Hydro & Vaan aims to develop low-carbon aluminium yachts by 2025

Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, has signed a letter of intent with Dutch yacht builder Vaan Yachts BV to advance circularity in the yachting industry.  Building on five years of collaboration, the two companies aim to develop aluminium sheet material for Vaan's premium catamarans with the highest possible share of recycled post-consumer scrap.

Aims to reduce carbon footprint

The goal is to achieve a carbon footprint of no more than 2 kg CO2e per kg of aluminium by 2025, which is half the footprint of Vaan's current hull plates and approximately 7.5 times lower than the global average for primary aluminium production.

"At Vaan, we use aluminium for our catamarans not just for its strength and low maintenance but because it's fully recyclable. Our yachts contribute to a more sustainable future without compromising on performance, quality or comfort. When sailing with Vaan, we want to ensure the only footprint you leave is the one on the beach," added Igor Kluin, co-founder and CEO of Vaan Yachts.

Around 80,000 recreational boats in Europe reach the end of their life cycle each year, creating significant environmental challenges due to the lack of adequate recycling systems for hulls primarily made from composite materials like fibreglass. Vaan Yachts is committed to addressing this issue by embracing a fully circular approach to sailing. Their philosophy focuses on building boats using only recycled and recyclable materials, ensuring compatibility with a responsible lifestyle and minimizing the impact on the planet.

"Hydro is determined to take the helm in the green aluminium transition, but to decarbonize the value chain and shape the market for low-carbon aluminium, we need to partner up with forward-leaning and like-minded customers. Our partnership with Vaan is a great opportunity for us to develop new low-carbon solutions and help them realize their vision of a circular product line. We are rocking the boat to promote sustainability in yachting," said Hanne Karine Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal.

Aluminium- the metal of the future

Aluminium can be remelted indefinitely without compromising the properties that make it well-suited for marine applications, such as lightness, rigidity, and corrosion resistance. Each Vaan yacht incorporates 6,000 to 10,000 kg of aluminium sourced from Hydro, including rolled sheets and extrusions. Hydro's low-carbon aluminium is accompanied by proof of origin, ensuring batch traceability and a documented carbon footprint.

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable without losing the properties that make it a crucial enabler for the green transition. Post-consumer aluminium scrap, which has previously been used in products like beverage cans, windows, and car parts, has a carbon footprint that is nearly zero since emissions have already been accounted for. This makes increasing the recycling of post-consumer scrap essential for accelerating emission reductions.