Verretex regenerates legendary racing yacht into circular Swiss watch with ID Genève Watches
A landmark circularity project reclaims advanced composites from the "Use It Again!" trimaran, proving marine fiberglass holds immense potential for high-value industrial second lives.
The maritime industry generates massive volumes of un-recyclable composite waste globally every year. Retired racing yachts and lightweight vessels actively resist traditional recycling. This leaves immense volumes of fiberglass destined for coastal graveyards or landfills.
Swiss cleantech Verretex is changing this trajectory. The company is upcycling performance fibers reclaimed directly from "Use It Again!"—the iconic trimaran formerly helmed by Dame Ellen MacArthur. Ocean advocate Romain Pilliard currently sails the vessel to champion ocean conservation.
Verretex is engineering the first-ever circular watch parts from these reclaimed structural components for a limited-edition collaboration with Swiss sustainable watchmaker ID Genève Watches. The official unveiling takes place this September during Climate Week New York.
We are using an advanced regeneration process to tackle the massive end-of-life problem for marine composites. Instead of downcycling these highly durable materials into low-value fillers, the Verretex technology restores the fiberglass to its original high-performance strength.
Applying this regenerated fiber to Swiss watchmaking raises vital awareness about the lifecycle of advanced materials. It proves these recovered marine fibers can be fully restored and used again in high-precision applications, demonstrating that end-of-life composites hold immense value rather than simply becoming permanent waste.
"The end-of-life reality for marine composites demands tangible action," says Mitchell Anderson, CEO of Verretex. "Regenerating the fiberglass from a legendary vessel raises awareness that recovered fibers can be fully restored and used again. We are proving that end-of-life composites are a high-value resource, not permanent waste."
Romain Pilliard is wearing the finalized timepiece during the Route du Rhum transatlantic race on November 1, 2026. Proceeds from the limited-edition ID Genève sales directly support his circular economy vision.
"Sailing the world's oceans exposes you to the raw reality of our environmental footprint," says Romain Pilliard. "We cannot accept that advanced boats simply become permanent waste. This collaboration proves that with the right technology, even the most complex marine composites can be regenerated into something precise, beautiful, and fully circular."
