141 Ship owners and operators can support suppliers of sustainable materials and products by helping them promote their commitment to sustainability practices. This can take place through shared platforms that showcase best practices and facilitate knowledge exchange through collaborating on R&D. Such an approach may be especially helpful in building connections with suppliers that have not previously chosen to work with clients in the cruise sector, for example. Cooperation between cruise lines will greatly magnify these sustainability efforts. Local sourcing is a key determinant of sustainability and for this reason it is a good idea for all stakeholders in maritime design projects to do what they can to support local businesses, enabling them to grow and encouraging them to prioritise sustainable products, processes and materials. This in turn will enable suppliers to tell their own sustainability stories while building their customer base among companies seeking greener ships. If the industry can encourage ongoing conversations about sustainability with the aim of developing a unified voice and broader awareness, momentum will build to the point that greener interior options have a relevant market share – and as a result, suppliers will develop more sustainable products. Validate and verify To achieve sustainable outcomes, it is important to be able to validate a supplier’s sustainability claims. Independent labels, ratings tools and certifications on sustainability can help in this regard. However, not all eco labels are equal and there does not yet exist an industry-wide resource for maritime interior designers to use that would help them compare ‘apples with apples’ when choosing between a range of apparently green options. Where products are marketed in a transparent manner, with information about the production chain and environmental footprint, it is easier to assess the level of sustainability than in situations where impressive green claims are not backed up by facts. In the shipping sector, construction and refits take place against a backdrop of regulation (fire-load calculations; IMO/SOLAS regulations, MED Wheelmark, among others). There is considerable interest among respondents to this report in a system that could provide sustainability guidance for maritime interior designers by, for example, specifying a maximum environmental footprint on each project, with guidance on how to measure impacts. This could become a certification system or a method of auditing – or simply a voluntary self-assessment tool to help improve best practice. And, given the established presence of sustainability ratings in land-based construction, it is likely that one or more of these methodologies could be adapted for marine interiors. – “It would be beneficial to have one standard that all suppliers and manufacturers worked to and was easy to understand for all parties”
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