Partners adapt recyclable boat material for pontoons

ExoTechnologies has joined forces with The Pontoon & Dock Company to launch what it says are the world’s first fully recyclable pontoon floats.

Chief innovation officer Jeroen Wats says the company’s proprietary DANU Composite Technology, a lightweight, durable, and endlessly recyclable material, will initially be used in four floating home developments in the UK before being rolled out in Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

The aim is ‘to drive eco-friendly advancements in waterways and marina design’, addressing the environmental damage caused by conventional materials like concrete and plastic, said Neill Walker, head of Sustainability with The Pontoon & Dock Company.

“The floats are part of a broader initiative to integrate sustainable practices into marine infrastructure globally,” he said.

DANU Composite Technology can be used for pontoon floats and floating structures; marine fenders and buoys; and structural components in docks, walkways and offshore platforms ‘where durability and sustainability are critical’.

“The technology has already garnered attention from key players in the marine sector,” said Wats. “Our partnership with The Pontoon & Dock Company has set the stage for implementing these solutions in marinas and even boatyards globally. Conversations are also under way with stakeholders interested in integrating DANU Composite materials into other commercial and industrial marine applications.”

Wats says the material’s high strength-to-weight ratio makes it more durable and efficient and because it can be almost completely recycled, waste is minimised and microplastic pollution eliminated.