142 For a cruise or ferry operator to succeed in making its interior spaces authentically sustainable, it is necessary to ensure that the company’s own brand, design and commercial values are all aligned regarding sustainable practices and processes. Installing sustainable products and materials could otherwise be seen as an inauthentic add-on or even as greenwashing on the part of the operator. Equally, a passenger shipping brand with high integrity could suffer reputational damage if it is seen to endorse the use of products and materials that are themselves not as green as their suppliers claim. For these reasons, it is important to know as much as possible about the materials and finishes that are being specified for interiors, not only in respect of the provenance of the materials but how they are constructed and transported. It can be confusing as a specifier to sort through the many green claims made by suppliers and understand which products will be best for the environment in the long run. Trusted certificates can go a long way to resolving this confusion, as can information from suppliers on every stage of the processing of the raw materials they use, both before and during production. A combination of best practice and industry pressure to shape responsible supply chains is needed to encourage materials traceability and corporate accountability, accompanied by third-party certification wherever possible. Sustainability reporting to current industry standards is also helpful in addressing claims and weeding out greenwashing. Participants in this report were asked how the maritime interiors industry as a whole could improve its verification processes. One suggestion received in response is the development of a green stamp of approval for products and suppliers, with an industry panel reviewing and discussing evidence from suppliers. Other options are for industry-specific sustainability audits to be made available and for targeted legislation to be introduced to control how suppliers source their materials. All agree that transparency throughout the supply chain should be actively promoted. However, while some wish to see strong enforcement of any new standards, others are in favour of encouraging higher sustainability ambition through voluntary participation that emphasises mutual trust, especially when dealing with smaller companies that do not have the resources to manage formal assessments. ADDRESS ING INDUSTRY I SSUES – “Our industry should make it clear which certificates it recognises so that suppliers don’t waste time and energy pursuing a certification that is deemed to be of little value”
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