Next year La Belle Verde (LBV) and Innovation Yachts are launching the ‘LBV35’, said to be the world’s most sustainable boat. LBV is a pioneer of the green boating movement, having designed, developed and introduced a fleet of solar powered, emission free vessels since launching in Ibiza 2014.
Maarten Bernhart, one of the founders of LBV said it was time for change. “There are currently around 20 million recreational vessels in the EU and USA, all built with highly toxic and nonrecyclable materials. All of these boats will end up on landfills or on the bottom of the sea within the next ten to 20 years,” he said.
Having previously focused on reducing emissions by implementing solar-electric propulsion technology, attention now turns to materials, construction and lifespan. The LBV35 is a 100% recyclable composite boat; even the moulds are made of fully recyclable material and LBV has also committed to a sustainable ‘loop’ recycling model whereby the company will buy back the composite materials and reuse them for future builds.
Suitable for single-handed sailing and with a top speed of 22 knots, the LBV35 will be produced in Les Sables d’Olonne in France, home to Norbert Sedlacek’s Innovation Yachts. “After 11 years of continuous development with fully recyclable, high end yacht building materials we are happy to become the home of the new LBV35,” said Norbert Sedlacek.
Read another article about new technology: Seven minute recharge for zero-emission ferries for Niagara Falls tour