ICOMIA, EBI and NMMA launch global boat life cycle survey

The international marine industry is being invited to respond to a global questionnaire that aims to assess the recreational marine sector’s readiness to adopt a harmonised life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.

Launched by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), the European Boating Industry (EBI) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), it is hoped the industry can come together to develop a globally harmonised environmental assessment methodology for the recreational marine industry.

The survey forms a key part of the organisations’ joint initiative to develop the first globally aligned environmental assessment framework for recreational boats launched last year.

Pilot life cycle assessment programme

The boat life cycle assessment questionnaire also serves as a gateway for companies wishing to play a more active role in the project.

Boatbuilders that participate in the survey may have the opportunity to join a pilot group that will test the new trial LCA tool, based on BBH Version 1.1, currently being developed by ICOMIA, EBI and NMMA.

Planned trials from October to December 2026 will allow participating companies to gain first-hand experience of the methodology, learn about LCA first-hand, contribute feedback on usability and functionality, and help shape a tool designed for practical adoption across the global recreational marine industry.

End-of-life boats

The project aims to establish a consistent, science-based approach that can be used internationally to measure and communicate the environmental impacts of recreational craft across their lifecycle. The initiative builds on the Blue Boat Horizon (BBH) project led by EBI that developed an industry-first LCA methodology and now works towards global alignment with a methodology that is both robust and practical for adoption by boatbuilders up to 24m.

As stakeholder demands, eco-design and environmental reporting requirements continue to evolve, boatbuilders, suppliers and industry stakeholders are increasingly seeking reliable tools to understand, measure and improve environmental performance. According to the organisers, a globally harmonised methodology will support greater comparability, transparency and credibility while helping businesses prepare for future market and regulatory expectations.

The boat life cycle assessment questionnaire has been designed to gather insights from boatbuilders and the international supply chain on their current understanding and use of life cycle assessment, the resources available within their organisations, perceived challenges to implementation, and the support they would need to adopt a harmonised methodology successfully.

Joe Lynch, ICOMIA CEO, comments: “The success of this project depends on broad industry participation.

“We want to ensure that our collaboration and the methodology reflect the realities of boatbuilders operating in different markets, building different types of craft, and working at different levels of sustainability maturity. The feedback gathered through this questionnaire will help shape a practical solution that delivers value for the entire global recreational marine industry.”

The information collected will help the project partners:

• Understand the industry’s current level of LCA awareness and experience
• Identify barriers to adoption
• Identify current and forthcoming legislation
• Assess training and support requirements
• Guide the development of user-friendly tools and resources
• Ensure global relevance across different markets and boat categories
• Support the creation of a credible and internationally accepted methodology

The project ultimately aims to provide the recreational marine sector with a common framework that enables informed environmental decision-making, supports sustainable boat building continuous improvement, and facilitates credible environmental communication across global markets.

Frank Hugelmeyer, president & CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and president of ICOMIA, outlined the need for a sustainable marine future in the ICOMIA podcast last year.

Have your say: Survey now live

The international life cycle assessment questionnaire is now live.