CSQA CERTIFIES SUSTAINABLE SAILING
MARKETED BY THE NETWORK OneSails
CSQA has certified that the life cycle assessment study of the 4T Forte sail product of the company Onesails International srl complies with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards.
The technology developed for the production of this type of sail results in a 66% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to an equivalent polyester sail, with the possibility of further improvements and without considering the possible positive developments in the end-of-life phases.
The leading national certification body has certified the LCA-Life Cycle Assessment study of the company Onesails International srl as compliant with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The document compares the impact on the emission of greenhouse gases, CO 2 equivalent, during the entire life of two types of sails for boats built with different types of material, from the production of the raw material, to the production processes of the semi-finished products, to the creation of the sail in the sail loft.
It has been estimated that around 130 million m 2 of sails are mounted on boats worldwide. Comparing a new generation 4T sail, in PE laminate, with a traditional sail built with Polyethylene Teraphthalate-PET (Dracon) fabric, it emerged that the production of a standard 50 m 2 sail in PE causes CO 2 emissions equal to 136.13 kg compared to 338.01 kg of a PET sail with a lower emission into the atmosphere, in just 4 months of production, of about 20 tons of CO 2 . There are two main factors: the use of a lower mass of structural material (the weight of the 4T sail is approximately 15 kg against the approximately 32 kg of the PET sail) and lower CO 2 content of the PE used for the production of the 4T sail compared to PET.
The sail, made by Flexon Composites srl and marketed by Onesails International srl, therefore involves a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to an equivalent polyester sail, with the possibility of further improvements with the replacement of the parts currently used for the PET reinforcements with PE and without considering the possible positive developments in the end-of-life phases. In fact, PE would be less energy intensive than the equivalent PET process. On this aspect, the companies are activating a memorandum of understanding for the recovery of used sails with the Polieco Consortium through tests of recycling and reuse of the material, with the aim of making this product completely recyclable through a system of collection of used sails, recovery and reconditioning of PE, thus further reducing the equivalent CO 2 emission.
“Going to sea with a sailboat – said Pietro Bonato , CSQA General Manager – is already an act of respect for the environment. Using a PE sail also results in a saving of 66% in greenhouse gas emissions. We hope that, from this virtuous Italian example, other manufacturing companies will develop technologies that are ever more attentive to innovative solutions, especially in the pleasure boating sector, which has always been a symbol of freedom and respect for the environment. CSQA will be proud to be alongside all those who wish to affirm their commitment in an objective and shared way".
“The use of a motor boat – said Leonard Bernardelli , Environment, Energy and Climate Change Business Developer & Scheme Manager of CSQA – causes an emission into the atmosphere of around 2 kg of CO 2 for each liter of fuel burned. If the boat with sail in PE is used, there is a further reduction of CO 2 equal to about 150 kg, for each sail purchased”.
Rome, September 29, 2014