North Sails is pleased to announce the launch of RENEW, a North Paneled Laminate (NPL) sailcloth meticulously crafted for cruising boats within the 25 to 45 ft range. This innovative sailcloth is composed of over 90% sustainable sources, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility without compromising on performance or longevity.
As a trailblazer in sailmaking, North Sails boasts a rich legacy characterized by groundbreaking innovations and technological advancements that have redefined the sailing industry. As the global leader, we are dedicated to addressing the challenges of sustainable sails, low-impact manufacturing, the utilization of alternative fibers, and the promotion of material circularity. The introduction of RENEW sailcloth signifies a pivotal move towards constructing more sustainable sails using premium materials.
RENEW Product Director Tom Davis commented, “There’s been a lot of rigorous work behind the scenes over a number of years to ensure RENEW is a sailcloth with legitimate sustainability credentials. This product has been tested to the absolute limit, and we are confident that a sail constructed with RENEW will offer unbeatable durability and sail shape for our cruising customers without compromising on performance.”
North Sails has cultivated strong partnerships with major corporations supplying films, fibers, and fabrics, underscoring a mutual dedication to advancing sustainable practices. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of RENEW. In sourcing materials for RENEW, North Sails successfully secured recycled polyester film and yarn, as well as bio-based Dyneema, ensuring optimal performance without compromising durability. The resulting cruising laminate cloth boasts an impressive composition of over 90% alternative bio-based and recycled raw materials. Notably, all supplier products contributing to RENEW hold Bluesign Certification and comply with ISCC standards, providing assurance regarding the authenticity of both sources and manufacturing processes.
North Sails President Ken Read noted, “We have been deliberate and comprehensive in vetting the authenticity of sustainability claims and thoroughly testing the materials before bringing a product to market. We wanted to be 100% certain with RENEW that North Sails could stand behind the improvements in the carbon footprint and authenticity of the sustainable materials in our sailcloth. With our wider commitment to continuous improvement and our push to strive for more sustainable solutions across the business at all levels, RENEW will not stop with panel laminates, and we will look to apply this approach to sustainable raw materials across our broader range of products.”
Within the framework of the RENEW initiative, North Sails remains committed to ongoing collaboration with suppliers. This partnership aims to pinpoint and enhance the raw materials essential for creating increasingly sustainable sails to meet the needs of our diverse customer base. North Sails is actively developing innovative solutions for sustainable sourcing across all its technologies, encompassing advancements in 3Di sails.
Davis continued, “North Sails has committed to adopting Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to learn about the ecological impact of all products and to establish goals for reducing waste and pollution. An important aspect of achieving these goals is to introduce more recycled content. By 2025, North Sails will implement a Responsible Product Scorecard for all products and will also establish measurable goals for circular products that can be recycled at the end of their lifecycle.“