We asked Thilo von Osterhausen from GunSails to what extent recycled material influences quality, durability and price - and whether the re-seal was perhaps just the beginning.
Thilo, how did you drive this idea forward at GunSails?
We have been working with natural or recycled materials - such as flax, bio-epoxy or recycled foams and fibres - in our in-house surfboard factory for a long time. So it was only natural to look for a sustainable alternative for a windsurf sail. This approach has become an important aspect of our development and will be reflected in other products in the coming years.
What material is used? And what are the challenges in the production of the sail?
Currently, 75 per cent of the sail surface of the GunSails Re-Seal is made from recycled material, or to be more precise: the mesh material in the upper area and the clear monofilm in the window are made from recycled PET bottles. Once the material has been developed, tested and validated, it can be processed in production just like a conventional sail and is virtually indistinguishable in appearance. We are therefore hoping for a high level of acceptance in the windsurfing world.
Does the use of recycled material have an impact on quality, performance, weight or durability?
No, definitely not! And that was also our prerequisite for this project. Recycled sailcloth achieves virtually identical measured values on the test bench compared to conventional material. A recycled sail can only be considered sustainable if it has at least the same quality and durability. Otherwise, the sail would be more sustainable to produce, but would have a shorter lifespan. This would not be a win-win situation. To make this as clear as possible in the first year of this project, we have deliberately incorporated it into what is probably our most used sail - the Seal wave sail.
In which sizes will the Re-Seal be available? How much will it cost?
The Re-Seal comes in sizes 3.2 to 5.7 and not only has the same size distribution as the normal Seal, but is also identical in shape. Our sail designer Renato Morlotti and the R&D team have put a lot of work and passion into the seal over the past few years to achieve this incredible balance. It was therefore clear to us that the GunSails Re-Seal had to continue in this vein. The price starts at 495 euros, which is why the Re-Seal is slightly more expensive than the normal seal.
Do you have plans to produce more models with recycled material? Or will you stick with this one model?
Yes, our plan is to make our product portfolio more sustainable. In our development, we are of course customer-orientated, so ultimately demand and acceptance of this material will also define the future path of recycled sails. However, after the incredibly positive feedback we are currently receiving, there is a very good chance that we will be able to make our entire sail collection more sustainable in the future. Fingers crossed!
Thank you Thilo for the interview!
Further information on the model is available HERE .
