Bio-boating: Yamaha to use cellulose nanofiber in watercraft and sport boat engines

In Georgia, Yamaha Marine U.S. will use plant-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced resin in the manufacture of select parts for watercrafts, including sport boat engines, beginning in 2024.

CNF reinforced resin is a new high-strength material manufactured by kneading and dispersing CNF, a biomass material made from wood resources, into resins such as polypropylene. The material is 25% lighter than existing resin materials and has excellent material recyclability, leading to a reduction in the amount of plastics used and greenhouse gas emissions, Yamaha says.

The CNF-reinforced resin, developed through a collaborative agreement between Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. in Japan and Nippon Paper Industries Corporation, Ltd., represents one of the world’s first practical use of the sustainable material for watercraft parts.