Bio-based resins have come a very long way in the last few years. No longer niche products, they are now among the best-selling resin systems on the market. The companies that pioneered these far less toxic and more sustainable, next-generation materials – like Sicomin, the market-leading supplier of liquid epoxy – are now reaping the rewards of their R&D, with massive uptake in major market sectors like automotive, construction and renewable energy, along with some innovative boatbuilders.
A turning point was reached a few years back when Sicomin, a French company with deep roots in high-performance yacht racing, launched a complete range of bio-epoxies whose performance is not just equivalent to the leading petrochemical-based resins on the market, but significantly better – and that’s not merely a manufacturer’s claim, it’s backed up with full DNV GL type approval. Another major milestone was passed this summer when Couach Naval Shipyard became the first to vacuum infuse a superyacht hull, deck and superstructure in bio-based epoxy. Couach, which builds high-performance military vessels as well as yachts, is renowned for its very high engineering standards.