Absolute Yachts and sustainability

Absolute Yachts has championed sustainability for decades, long before it became a marketing touchpoint and an integral part of corporate social responsibility. 

For Absolute, building the finest yachts on which to enjoy the marine environment has always been inextricably linked to ensuring that this natural beauty is protected from the deterioration caused by human activities. Sustainability, an important part of our business ethics, takes two forms: the sustainability of our products, and the sustainability of our manufacturing process.

 Product sustainability

Absolute’s yachts are built for the finest experience afloat, for the lowest possible impact on the marine environment, and to be as carbon-neutral as possible.

Recyclable materials

The quality materials from which our yachts are built – wood, fibreglass, steel, glass, textiles and cabling – can be separated at the end of the yacht’s career, and recycled, in order to reach a very high end-of-life recycling rate (EOL-RR).

Energy-efficient IPS power plants

Thanks to Volvo Penta’s innovative Inboard Performance System (IPS), the propulsion systems chosen by Absolute represent a true revolution in marine propulsion. This is particularly significant because it allows the use of lower-capacity engines, resulting in a reduction of up to 30% in fuel consumption. With low emissions, reduced noise, minimal vibration, and less space requirements, they were the obvious choice, reflecting our approach to sustainability.

Design for comfort and energy efficiency

Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in several distinctive features of Absolute, able to combine comfort and design. The integrated solar panels on the flybridge roof, for example, ensure increased comfort for the owner, guests, and crew. These panels enable the operation of essential services while keeping the diesel generator off, reducing emissions and allowing guests to enjoy their chosen bay in absolute tranquillity.

While we can’t claim to be the first to use solar panels, Absolute is undoubtedly the first to combine their use with opening windows: turning off the generator means giving up air conditioning, making natural ventilation the perfect solution to maintain a pleasant climate on board.

Sustainable production

Production processes that minimize environmental impact and conserve energy and natural resources are essential to our corporate ethics, effectively enhancing the safety of employees and the local community. Absolute’s industrial processes are designed precisely for this purpose. The company’s approach to social responsibility has led it to invest in sustainability systems for several years.

Photovoltaic and geothermal energy

The Podenzano facility features a vast area of photovoltaic solar panels. The total installed capacity currently reaches 2 Megawatts, contributing to minimizing the use of fossil fuels and the overall ecological footprint of the company. Absolute also harnesses geothermal energy, a system that taps into the constant temperature present underground for heating and cooling indoor spaces using heat pumps. Geothermal energy has numerous advantages: it’s renewable, available at consistent levels 24/7, regardless of weather conditions, and employs compact and clean systems. Our geothermal plant allows for a fourfold increase in energy savings for air conditioning: compared to traditional systems, just 1 kW of electrical energy is needed to achieve a thermal power of 4 kW.

Extensive use of natural lighting

Our factory at Podenzano has been designed to enhance natural lighting, and in fact our interior lights are switched off for a large part of working hours. This feature reduces energy consumption in the simplest way of all, utilising best-practice industrial architecture.

Waste treatment and internal climatization for employee wellness

Absolute’s industrial premises are fitted with state-of-the-art plant that reduces the environmental impact of waste products such as material residues and process dusts that are 100% extracted, trapped and collected, ready for treatment by specialist companies. The internal environment is kept in optimum conditions by means of air conditioning, filtration and micro-purification plant, which undergoes regular inspection to ensure optimum efficiency at all times.

Closed-circuit water basin

While Absolute’s main shipyard is located in Podenzano, approximately 100 km from the coast, every yacht undergoes testing in a dry dock basin equipped with a closed-loop system: the water within is consistently kept clean through an independent treatment system, thus avoiding any discharge into the surrounding environment.

Sustainable supply chain

Absolute selects suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in their manufacturing processes equivalent to our own level of attention. The success of the company relies on keeping the oceans clean and healthy; therefore, we encourage our suppliers and business partners to align with our environmental conservation values.

Reduced consumption, cleaner oceans

Far ahead of its time, Absolute has committed to reducing its ecological footprint through the use of new technologies designed to preserve the health of our oceans, decrease fuel consumption, and protect all stakeholders, including employees, the local community, and all guests enjoying life on board. Our yachts are designed with their entire lifecycle in mind. The entire corporate ethos reflects immense love for the ocean from both the Absolute staff and yacht owners.

 Our objective is to be one of the world’s most sustainable yacht builders.