Marine Impact Lab to bring sustainability workshops and industry collaboration to Metstrade 2026
Image credit: PolaRYSE. Marine Impact Lab returns to Metstrade 2026.
Marine Impact Lab will return to Metstrade 2026 with an expanded programme aimed at helping marine businesses accelerate sustainability through practical workshops, collaboration and networking.
Taking place on 16 November at RAI Amsterdam, ahead of the opening of the annual trade exhibition, the half-day event will bring together designers, engineers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and sustainability specialists for a series of interactive sessions focused on implementing sustainable practices across the marine sector.
Organised in collaboration with Metstrade, Marine Futures and Foxall Munro, the Marine Impact Lab launched its inaugural edition last year and has grown into a dedicated forum for sharing practical knowledge and encouraging cross-sector collaboration.
This year’s edition introduces additional peer-to-peer learning opportunities, expert-led workshops and facilitated networking designed to support businesses as sustainability becomes an increasingly important commercial consideration.
A new initiative for 2026 will see participation extended as a partnership benefit for companies shortlisted for the DAME Awards and businesses taking part in the Yachting Ventures Metstrade Start-Up programme.
Organisers say the initiative is intended to give emerging companies access to sustainability expertise, practical tools and industry connections. The programme features two interactive workshop sessions.
The first, “Selling Sustainability”, will be delivered by Foxall Munro and The Toolbox team. The session will explore how organisations can communicate the business value of sustainability internally and externally, covering topics including sustainability strategy, policy development and implementation frameworks.
The second workshop, “Sustainable Design Principles”, will be led by Marine Futures using its MarineShift360 platform. Participants will examine sustainable product development through lifecycle assessment, material selection, circularity and manufacturing decisions. The session will also incorporate the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Eco Design Challenge Simulator to demonstrate how design choices influence environmental impact throughout a product’s lifecycle.
Following the workshops, attendees will take part in expert-led “Table Talks” covering emerging technologies and industry trends, including alternative propulsion systems and biomaterials. The programme concludes with a networking session sponsored by the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.
Ollie Taylor, co-founder of Marine Futures, says sustainability has become both an environmental and commercial priority for marine businesses. He explains: “The businesses that act now, before a rule forces the pace, are the ones that will get ahead, and we want to support them. The Marine Impact Lab is an afternoon that brings the industry together to share what works and turn it into action.”
Michelle Carnevale, president of 11th Hour Racing, says greater collaboration is needed to help the industry make use of existing sustainability expertise. She adds: “Many of the tools and expertise needed to help the marine industry become more sustainable already exist. The challenge is creating more opportunities to share them.”
Amy Munro, co-founder of Foxall Munro and The Toolbox, comments: “The Marine Impact Lab is designed to educate and upskill sustainability practices across the sector, with an emphasis on helping organisations demonstrate measurable impact and make more credible, evidence-backed sustainability claims.”
The Marine Impact Lab is open to all Metstrade visitors. Early bird registration is priced at €80 per person until 1 September 2026, with the event running from 14:00 to 17:00, followed by a networking reception until 18:00.
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