10 Sustainability through partnerships and collaboration – Helen Blantz, Conference Director, Sustainable Design Summit & Cruise Ship Interiors Expo The business case for sustainability must include the purchasing power of the passenger. Multigenerational cruises and cruises which are designed for next-generation guests ignore the heightened sustainability awareness of their younger customers at their peril. Customers want to know that their holiday isn’t going to cost the earth and are broadly open to paying a premium for an authentically sustainable cruise experience. By authentic, think vessel, interiors, embodied and operational carbon, and any operational aspects of the guest experience, like waste and recycling. We don’t yet have a mandated system for ensuring maximum environmental gains from interior design projects, which is something our industry needs. There are however legislative developments for larger corporations in both the United States and the European Union around the reporting of Corporate Social Responsibility risks for investors, indicating a direction of travel towards transparency and a level playing field. Both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission require businesses to have sight of their entire supply chain. We are all ultimately connected by one planet. In design terms, project teams are connected from the initial design stage right through to the onsite implementation team, with associated supply chain, logistics and transportation. Designers, manufacturers, outfitters, yards and owners are all partners with influence. And it’s in partnership where the opportunities for sustainability gains lie. It’s worth noting that conversely, failings in partnerships are often the cause of negative environmental impacts. For instance, delays in delivery can mean last-minute air freight for inventory. Every partner in the connected project community can make a meaningful impact. Sustainability partners work consistently towards sustainable outcomes in all aspects of a project. They make sustainable choices through knowledge sharing, communication and collaboration. They have an understanding of which materials, processes and project practices make for intrinsically green outcomes and are constantly educating themselves and their partners on how they evaluate their options. Achieving environmental gains through quality design isn’t the hard feat of the eco-warrior, nor should designers allow overwhelm to inhibit their environmental efforts. Education, collective learning and collaboration of the design community will instigate the biggest sustainability wins. About the Sustainable Design Summit This is a highly interactive event for designers across cruise interiors, aircraft cabin interiors and hotel interiors, alongside their suppliers. The aims of the event are to share knowledge and experiences across sectors, and to make sustainable choices easier for interior designers. Features include networking opportunities, a product showcase, and a ‘Chatham House Rules’ session in the afternoon for the community to apply what they are learning to their own niche, whether that be cruise, aircraft, hotel brands or supply chain. A roundup session shares priorities, key challenges and next steps. Join us – 29 November 2022, The Brewery, London. SPONSOR STATEMENTS
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