184 The interiors supplier community also has a responsibility to extend the available ranges of sustainable products and materials. Suppliers interested in capitalising on a growing market potential can embrace the opportunity to focus on the sustainability of their products. Finally, defining baseline sustainability performance can help reduce the choice paralysis that can prevail in mainstream markets regarding what materials and systems to choose for interiors. Committing to use only certified products or recyclable or compostable protective material can simplify the planning and decision-making process as well as subsequent choices regarding disposal, recycling and reuse of materials and components. Planning for the longer term Many companies engaged in maritime interiors are in favour of the creation of a dedicated legislative and/or certification body for the industry that could enforce sustainability standards. Among the suggested responsibilities of such a body are checking waste is properly managed and volumes recorded for recycling or reuse and items sent to landfill. A roadmap to greater sustainability that covers the contributions of all stakeholders involved in interiors projects on ships has also been suggested as a useful tool, supplemented by regular indepth reports, industry awards and competitions to promote the growing importance of sustainable products and design. Given that the major land-based construction standards are well established, many respondents to this report are interested in what can be learned from these and some are already engaging with systems such as LEED and BREEAM to determine whether they could in future obtain certification for maritime interiors through these bodies. Other suggestions regarding ways to set up better practices for the long term include establishing a CLIA-Interferry and/or IMO-backed industry working group comprising all stakeholders, from the smallest supplier to the largest ship owners; creating a golbal and well-supported forum could be a platform to turn to for answers on sustainable sourcing, materials and products; getting flag states involved (through IMO) to help owners and yards find ways to make better use of the waste material coming off ships; creating a maritime interiors information hub to increase awareness of best practice; and listing suppliers that are at the forefront of sustainable production. THE ROAD AHEAD – “It might be difficult to build the whole interior in a sustainable way. But every time we manage to implement just one more sustainable material than before, it is a win” – “Let’s tell the world that we’re looking for more sustainable and certified products and see who knocks on our door!”
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