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Sicomin’s (Châteauneuf les Martigues, France) latest innovation, SR GreenPoxy 550, is a fully reformulated bio-based epoxy system engineered for the bonding and lamination of timber and fiber composites.

SR GreenPoxy 550 has been developed as a sustainable alternative for one of Sicomin’s keystone legacy resins. After an extensive R&D program, SR GreenPoxy 550 delivers equivalent or improved handling and performance properties while eliminating all carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances.

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The epoxy’s bio-based formulation is derived in part from plant sources, reducing reliance on petrochemical raw materials. In addition to a clean material safety datasheet, SR GreenPoxy 550 offers optimal viscosity and reactivity tailored to hand lamination, reducing waste compared to infusion processes; high strength and stiffness at room temperature, with strong adhesion to a wide range of wood substrates; and enables an excellent finish in cured laminates, meeting the demands of performance racing yacht construction.

“We believe SR GreenPoxy 550 is the only bio-based, non-CMR epoxy system for wood composites available on the market today,” contends Sicomin’s Marc Denjean. “We focused on replicating the handling and mechanical properties of our previous resins while delivering a safer, more sustainable system. For our customers, it means the performance they expect with the environmental and HSE profile they need.”

The first major implementation of SR GreenPoxy 550 is the Greenscow project, an initiative led by naval architect Gildas Plessis to demonstrate low-carbon alternatives in offshore racing yacht construction. The Greenscow design uses epoxy-plywood sandwich composites combined with natural fibers such as flax and basalt to produce hulls that are both competitive and dramatically lower in embodied carbon.

Compared to a traditional full carbon fiber composite hull, a Greenscow epoxy-ply hull built with SR550 can reduce construction footprint by up to 80% while offering comparable stiffness and structural integrity, with tailored fiber placement for load optimization; weight savings approaching carbon fiber levels, particularly on smaller yachts such as the Mini 6.50; and improved repairability, longevity and reduced end-of-life environmental impact.

The yard in Brittany, specialists in epoxy-plywood construction, has already integrated 550 into its production process. Hand lamination was chosen not only to minimize material waste but also to align with the products processing profile, that enables skilled laminators to achieve high-quality, low-void laminates without the excessive consumable waste associated with vacuum infusion.

Early applications include the Greenscow 6.50 prototype, now in small-series production, as well as a new Class40 design. Looking further ahead, a 60' foiling Greenscow IMOCA is fully engineered and planned for build ahead of the 2032 Vendée Globe.

“Plywood combined with basalt fiber and SR GreenPoxy 550 resin represents one of the best compromises we’ve seen between performance, durability, repairability and environmental footprint,” explains Flavien Gaulard, director of Kaori Concept. “We’ve tested 550 extensively across different fibers and laminating processes, and its results are on par with traditional resins, with the added benefit of a sustainable chemistry.”