Produce cork insulation that meets Batho's needs
Born in 2018, the Batho company has set itself the goal of giving a second life ashore to decommissioned pleasure boats. In a logic of reuse, it transforms these boats at the end of their life into outdoor accommodation or meeting rooms... It is within this framework that the team has taken an interest in cork, designed for its decorative and insulating qualities. "What struck us during the installation was the strong smell that emanated from the ready-to-use products. We decided to have them analysed by a specialised laboratory to find out whether they were compatible for indoor health. On the products tested, the results showed a high level of biocide, fungicide and pollutants making the products unsuitable for indoor use. Based on the same pillars as Batho, namely circular economy, reuse and product development in the regions, we decided to develop our own solution" explains Romain Grenon, co-founder of the company.
Ecological sprayed cork made in France
The new product, called Soliege, is part of an eco-design approach. "The objective is a product similar to the competition in use, but designed differently. It is sold in dry form, to be reconstituted in water, unlike ready-to-use pasta which needs fungicides and preservatives. It also reduces the weight, cost and ecological impact of logistics. For the same use, you need 6kg of dry Soliege for 12kg of ready-to-use pasta" says Romain Grenon.
The cork, produced in the Landes, is then processed in Nantes. Soliege has been certified by the Excell laboratory in Mérignac, a specialist in health issues for cork and the wine stopper industry. It has been awarded the Zone Verte label, dedicated to indoor environments. "The product is designed for indoors, with no VOCs, and is therefore suitable for application in confined environments such as boats", says the designer.
Business Development
Soliege is now fully developed and is mainly intended for 3 markets: naval, vans and housing. The first projects are currently being carried out in shipyards. Two distributors are in charge of sales on the Atlantic, the application being within the reach of the majority of shipyards.
