Easy to identify sustainable practices at Metstrade

Metstrade says it’s introducing a ‘Superyacht Sustainability Route’ in this year’s show. In collaboration with the Water Revolution Foundation the initiative will indicate exhibitors who have passed the foundation’s life cycle assessment (and thus hold a verified entry in its database).

The Database of Sustainable Solutions is to be launched later this year. Anyone seeking a listing in this online database submits to a life cycle assessment (LCA), which is conducted by the foundation’s group of research institutes. If the submission is confirmed to be more sustainable than the business as usual, being better throughout its entire life cycle, then it is being promoted as such.

The foundation’s database supports the following three sustainable development goals from the United Nations:

• SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
• SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

The Superyacht Sustainability Route is anticipated to be of significant assistance to the purchasers who attend Metstrade 2022, says organisers. Buyers are highly dependent on reliable third-party confirmation of environmental credentials to achieve the increasingly ambitious environmental objectives of their companies and the boats and superyachts that they build, refit and care for.

“The launch of this year’s Superyacht Sustainability Route is in addition to other initiatives that Metstrade is facilitating to promote sustainability across the sector,” says Niels Klarenbeek, show director. “As the Water Revolution Foundation’s Database of Sustainable Solutions builds on the availability of independent third-party verification, we aim to bring more transparency to the innovative environmental impact reduction activities of the superyacht sector and its supply chain.”

However, as MIN reported in Nov 2020, the database was originally set to launch in early 2021. At that time, Robert van Tol, executive director, said: “I know for a fact that there are more sustainable solutions available today than most yachting professionals are aware of. If these were all to be implemented, a significant reduction in environmental impact could be immediately achieved.” MIN looks forward to seeing the numbers who are involved in the scheme.

The Water Revolution Foundation also revealed details of its Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (Yeti) in December 2021. That tool was a product of three years of research between several shipyards, naval architects and research institutes, and is used to compare yachts based on their environmental credentials when in operation.