by Water Revolution Foundation | 29 Apr 2026 | News
What we shared and what we learned at the UNITAR Global Sustainability Forum
The superyacht industry is not used to telling its story outside its own circle. Most of the conversations that shape how our sector approaches sustainability, the taskforces, the measurement frameworks, the regenerative investment models happen within the industry, for the industry.
That’s by design, and it works. But it also means that the wider world, policymakers, sustainability professionals, and cross-sector voices rarely hear what we are actually doing. Or why.
The UNITAR Global Sustainability Forum at Grinzane Cavour Castle in Piedmont was an opportunity to change that. It brought together leaders and thinkers from across industries, geographies, and disciplines under the umbrella of a shared challenge: how do we build sustainability into the fabric of how we operate, not as an add-on, but as the starting point?
We were there to make the case for the superyacht sector. And the conversation we walked into was one of the most energising, and clarifying we’ve had in a long time.
Why we were there, and what we came to say
Water Revolution Foundation exists to help the superyacht industry become more environmentally friendly and more resilient. That means building the tools, the data infrastructure, and the shared frameworks that allow an industry of independent operators, builders, and owners to move in the same direction without waiting for regulation to force their hand.
The Global Sustainability Forum gave us the platform to articulate that work in a room that wasn’t already familiar with it. And the core of what we shared was this: most industries face the same structural challenge when it comes to sustainability, there is no shortage of targets, but there is a significant shortage of tools to actually deliver on them.
Ocean Assist, our regenerative investment framework, funds the restoration of marine ecosystems, seagrass, biodiversity, and critical habitats, with measurable, independently verified ecological outcomes. In the Venice Lagoon, for example, we support seagrass restoration within a defined area, improving biodiversity, stabilising sediments, and enhancing carbon capture. Through the UN Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMA) programme, we also contribute to the protection of critical marine mammal habitats in waters where superyachts are most active.
These are the kind of interventions that leave the system in a better state than before and they can be structured, transparent, and scalable, so that companies across the sector can participate in a credible, meaningful way.
We also spoke about the dynamics that make any of this work in practice. Credibility matters more than claims people respond to independently verified data, not assertions. Ease matters because the barrier to sustainability is rarely intent; it’s friction. Ownership matters because solutions built with the industry get adopted by the industry. And value matters because the moment sustainability shows up in commercial decision-making, it stops being a side initiative and becomes part of the business.
What the forum gave us in return
The forum covered sustainability across its full scope environmental, social, local, regional, and international. Speakers were candid about where the broader movement has struggled, and where the real opportunities lie. Several threads struck us as particularly relevant to bring back to our own industry.
One of the most honest was the acknowledgement that we are currently in what one speaker called a “sustainability winter” a period where political appetite has cooled and some of the commitments made in the warmer years are showing their roots to be shallow. But the framing was not defeatist. If anything, the argument ran the other way: periods of lower scrutiny are periods of opportunity for those who want to lead rather than follow. The organisations that use this time to build real systems not just reporting frameworks, but genuine structural change will be the ones who set the direction when attention returns.
“It is not whether sustainability can be made compatible with business. The question is whether business can be made compatible with sustainability.” Ioannis Ioannou — speaker, UNITAR Global Sustainability Forum
The distinction matters. Too many organisations still treat sustainability as something to be made to fit a constraint to manage, rather than a lens through which the business itself is designed. The forum made clear that this is not just philosophically flawed; it is strategically risky. Companies that confuse being less bad with being prepared for the future are, as one speaker put it, only borrowing against it.
A second theme was the link between environmental and social sustainability and the risk of separating them. A fair supply chain is not optional; it is foundational. Finally, the forum challenged a familiar pattern: collecting data without acting on it. Reporting has advanced across many industries, including ours. But insight that doesn’t inform decisions is just noise. The real value lies in using data to drive action and that is something we intend to carry forward.
Key takeaways for our industry
- A slowdown in sustainability momentum is an opportunity to lead, not wait.
- Environmental, social, and financial priorities must work together not in sequence.
- Measurement only matters if it informs action.
- Framing matters: aligning business with sustainability is the real challenge.
There is something clarifying about taking your work outside its usual context. The UNITAR forum reminded us that the challenges our industry faces are not unique — and neither are the paths forward. What is distinctive about the superyacht sector is the opportunity it has: a smaller, higher-value industry with the means, the motivation, and increasingly the tools to do this properly.
The conversations we had at The Global Sustainability Forum reinforced what we already believe: the real opportunity is in what happens before regulation, not after it. And that window is open now.
by Water Revolution Foundation | 29 Apr 2026 | News
We are pleased to announce the addition of AETHIC’s Reef-Safe Sunscreen SPF50 to our Hub of Verified Solutions. This marks a pivotal expansion for the Hub, as it represents the first sunscreen and the first consumer product to successfully undergo a rigorous third-party verification process.
Our verification framework remains committed to absolute transparency, utilising a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental and human health impacts. By comparing performance against the “Business As Usual” (BAU) market standard, we provide the yachting industry with data-driven evidence of a product’s credentials.
AETHIC Reef-Safe Sunscreen SPF50
AETHIC’s inclusion in the Hub follows an extensive LCA conducted by ANKA Sustainable Solutions, with a formal third-party review completed under ISO 14071:2024. This scientific approach ensures that the “reef-safe” designation is backed by measurable performance rather than just marketing claims.
When measured against the industry benchmark, AETHIC’s solution demonstrated:
- A lower environmental footprint across 11 of the 16 quantified environmental impact categories. An analysis within AETHIC’s independently reviewed Life Cycle Assessment, using the ReCiPe methodology, found AETHIC’s marine ecotoxicity score (during production) to be up to 52% lower than representative market.*
- A carbon footprint that is 45% lower than the established market SPF50 formulation alternative.
As the superyacht industry increasingly prioritises ocean conservation, the verification of daily-use products like sunscreen is essential. AETHIC’s commitment to this level of scrutiny provides crew and owners alike with a verified choice that aligns with the health of the marine ecosystems they enjoy.
Get Verified Today
AETHIC’s Reef-Safe Sunscreen joins a growing list of verified technologies that are setting a new standard for the maritime sector. By subjecting products to a Life Cycle Assessment, suppliers can demonstrate true credibility and help drive the industry toward more responsible practices.
Explore AETHIC’s full verification data: https://waterrevolutionfoundation.org/verified-solutions/
Learn more and initiate the verification process: https://waterrevolutionfoundation.org/programmes/hub-of-verified-solutions/
*AETHIC’s sunscreen is formulated without zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, nor oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octocrylene — UV filters that peer-reviewed science has linked to coral bleaching and bioaccumulation in marine organisms, and the last three of which are now banned in marine-protected areas in Hawaii, Palau, Thailand, Bonaire and the Florida Keys. AETHIC’s three UV filters — MBBT, DHHB, and EHT — were selected and independently tested for marine eco-compatibility, and are recognised in scientific literature as significantly less harmful to coral reef ecosystems than the filters they replace. The formulation was also tested in its entirety and is protected by European Patent EP 2 736 482 B1, as well as other jurisdictions which define eco-compatibility with coral reef ecosystems as the standard the product is held to.
by Water Revolution Foundation | 3 Feb 2026 | News
ISO/TS 23099 approved: A Major Milestone for Sustainability in the Large Yacht Sector
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has formally approved ISO/TS 23099, a two-year international standardisation project inspired by and elaborating on the outcomes of the ground breaking Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI) Joint Industry Project, spearheaded by Water Revolution Foundation. The Technical Specification establishes, for the first time, a harmonised and science-based method to assess and compare the environmental performance of large yachts.
National Standardization Bodies within ISO, including those representing major yacht-building nations Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Turkey, Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have approved ISO/TS 23099, a new Technical Specification developed under ISO Technical Committee 8 (TC8), Subcommittee 12 (SC12) for large yachts. This approval marks a significant step forward in providing the superyacht sector with a science-based method and internationally recognized reference to assess and compare environmental performance of yachts.
ISO/TS 23099 is the first project delivered by the ISO TC8 SC12 Working Group 6 (WG6) on Large Yachts Sustainability & Environment, underscoring the growing commitment of the industry to measurable, transparent, and credible environmental responsibility.
WG6 convenor Robert van Tol states: “ISO is the way to unite cross-industry experts and pro-actively work together on own standards where international legislative guidance is absent or proves impractical to implement.” He adds, “There is now a yacht-specific method and official reference to be applied for assessing the fleet.”
The Technical Specification is the culmination of a five-year joint industry effort, bringing together leading yacht builders, naval architects, technical experts, research institutes and classification societies. Its objective is to establish a robust and practical methodology to assess and compare the operational environmental performance of yachts over 30 metres in length.
Hanna Dąbrowska, Technical Director at Water Revolution Foundation, explains: “the method benchmarks yachts through a fixed median values operational profile that was statistically found of 10% cruising, 34% at anchor and 56% in port, which is fundamentally different from that of commercial shipping. The result is indicated through a score against a reference line of central tendency of scores in different gross tonnage (volume) categories.”
By defining a common framework and consistent assessment approach, ISO/TS 23099 enables objective comparison, supports informed decision-making for both new build projects and refit scenarios, providing a foundation for continuous improvement across the sector. Importantly, it offers a shared language for environmental performance, helping to align industry efforts and avoid fragmented or proprietary approaches.
Awwal Idris, Environmental Expert at Water Revolution Foundation, adds: “Next to CO2 equivalent to translate the environmental impact over several indicators into a single score, the TS introduces the more sophisticated EcoPoints, a common factor in life cycle assessment, made up of a combination of various underlying environmental factors, including CO2 and NOx. This outcome enables users to fully understand the impact, but also to work out different scenarios to improve, both for new build and refit projects.”
The approval of ISO/TS 23099 represents a critical milestone in the evolution of environmental standards for large yachts and reflects the industry’s collective determination to move from aspiration to measurable action.
Lorenzo Pollicardo, Technical & Environmental Director at Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss), states: “This approved ISO reference confirms shipyards proactive commitment toward the decarbonization objective and enables further work and validation testing through application and use to make it more robust and widely adopted, setting an instrument useful to also support future yachts tailored emission provisions in the international regulatory framework. This and other future projects under WG6, provide shipyards and other industry stakeholders with practical ways toward more environmentally driven yacht design, construction, and operation.”
by Water Revolution Foundation | 1 Jan 2026 | News
We are proud to announce the appointment of Leah Werner as the new Executive Director of Water Revolution Foundation, effective 1 January 2026.
Leah succeeds Robert van Tol, who has served as Executive Director since the Foundation’s inception and will now assume the position of Executive Director of the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss).
Trained as a biological oceanographer, Leah joins us with 13+ years of leadership experience at the intersection of environmental science, policy, and implementation, with a career centred on translating scientific concepts for non-technical audiences, decision-makers, and industry stakeholders. Her work has spanned government and industry-facing roles, marked by collaboration and effective execution. She brings a strong track record of building cross-sector collaboration and helping industry coalesce around practical, sustainable solutions, directly aligned with our mission to drive environmental progress in the yachting sector. In this new chapter, the Ocean Assist programme remains a core pillar of our work; Leah’s extensive background will be instrumental in identifying new opportunities to scale the initiative, ensuring it continues to grow in impact and reach.
In her previous role, Leah led strategy and stakeholder engagement for major remediation and water infrastructure programmes across the U.S. and internationally. She represented federal environmental authorities in high-profile negotiations and public forums, helping to build trust among governments, industry, and communities. Her leadership in advancing climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and long-term stewardship across complex maritime and water-linked environments aligns closely with Water Revolution Foundation’s mission to drive environmental progress in the yachting sector.
“My focus will be on building strong partnerships, aligning industry for adoption and implementation of everything the foundation has brought forward over the last 7 years. We enter a critical new phase embedding actionable standards and tools to truly move forward as a collective. Together, we can drive measurable progress that supports both the industry’s future and the health of our ocean.” – Leah Werner
Honouring a Founding Leader
We extend our deepest gratitude to Robert van Tol for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to building Water Revolution Foundation into the driving force for environmental progress it is today. From shaping its mission and programmes to cultivating a trusted global network, Robert has been instrumental in establishing the Foundation as a catalyst for science-based change within the superyacht community.
As he transitions to his new role as Executive Director of SYBAss, we are grateful for his enduring contributions and continued presence within the wider industry.
“I would like to thank the partners for their support and trust over the last 7 years. The Foundation and its programmes are here to stay. I would like to welcome Leah to the Foundation, I am excited to see her take the Foundation to the next level and bring her expertise into this industry.” – Robert van Tol
Leadership Continuity
With Leah’s appointment, Water Revolution Foundation continues its commitment to strong governance, strategic leadership, and long-term impact. Her experience, vision, and deep understanding of environmental systems will be essential as we move forward with our three-year plan and further strengthen the Foundation’s role as a catalyst for environmental transformation within the yachting sector.
We are delighted to welcome Leah to the Foundation and look forward to the innovation, collaboration, and renewed momentum she will bring.
Welcome to the Revolution!
by Water Revolution Foundation | 27 Nov 2025 | News
Water Revolution Foundation spent last week at the Superyacht Forum and Metstrade for a full programme of meetings, presentations and collaborative sessions. Our team contributed across multiple stages, advancing conversations on environmental responsibility and practical pathways for a more sustainable superyacht sector. Below is a wrap-up of our sessions.
NXT-GEN Anti-Fouling Session
Our Environmental Specialist, Awwal Idris joined the panel for the NXT-GEN Anti-fouling session which brought together coating manufacturers, shipyards and insurers to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of fouling control. The discussion highlighted the need to balance hull performance, regulatory changes and environmental protection, with a growing emphasis on reducing toxic releases and preventing invasive species transfer. Speakers compared differing approaches – from traditional biocides to silicone foul-release technologies – while emphasising ongoing misconceptions around operational requirements for newer systems. The panel strongly supported a sector-wide shift from “antifouling” to the broader and more accurate term “fouling control,” and underlined the increasing role of Life Cycle Assessment in material innovation, though better integration of real-world operational performance into these assessments remains essential.
HVO: Breaking Barriers to Adoption
Our Technical Director, Hanna Dąbrowska moderated the HVO session, a deeply practical session that clarified the regulatory, operational and technical realities of adopting HVO as a drop-in fuel for the yacht fleet. Certification frameworks, including EU schemes and emerging IMO guidance, were outlined to demonstrate that integrity mechanisms already exist to manage fraud risks within the renewable fuel supply chain. The panel noted that HVO is compatible with most modern engines, offers cleaner combustion and enhanced engine longevity, and maintains excellent long-term storage stability. While availability varies regionally and cost remains slightly above MGO, most barriers are rooted in misconceptions – particularly confusion between HVO and FAME biodiesel. The key takeaway is that HVO represents the only immediate and scalable decarbonisation tool for the existing fleet (however it is still a temporary solution according to the IMO), with adoption limited more by perception and education than by technology.
The Ocean Assist Programme
Our Initiator and Vice Chair, Dr. Vienna Eleuteri was joined on stage by Georgina Menheneott from Burgess, Fiorenzo Spadoni from RINA and Francesca Webster from Superyacht Times to discuss our new programme Ocean Assist. This session introduced Ocean Assist as a scientifically verified, regenerative investment pathway designed specifically for the maritime sector. It explained how Ocean Assist Units combine carbon removal, biodiversity regeneration, water-quality improvements and social benefits within one transparent and independently validated methodology. Case studies demonstrated operational uptake, including Burgess’ integration of these units into travel, events and fleet management, while RINA outlined the ISO 14064-3 verification process that underpins credibility and safeguards against greenwashing. With global environmental reporting expectations rising and regions like the Red Sea already embedding regenerative metrics into marine tourism frameworks, the session highlighted Ocean Assist as a forward-leaning, reputation-enhancing approach for the yachting community.
Hub of Verified Solutions Matchmaking Session
This dynamic speed-dating format connected verified solutions from our Hub of Verified Solutions with an expanded group of potential buyers, creating an energetic environment for discovery, knowledge exchange and commercial traction. The session saw strong engagement and meaningful introductions, reinforcing the Hub’s role as the central platform for proven sustainable technologies in yachting and demonstrating growing industry appetite for verified, ready-to-implement solutions.
If you would like to learn more about our Hub of Verified Solutions or submit a solution for verification, visit: https://waterrevolutionfoundation.org/programmes/hub-of-verified-solutions/
WRF IMO Zero-Framework – What Is NXT
With the decision at IMO to delay the Net Zero Framework by one year, our voluntary industry Roadmap 2050, launched last June, was the perfect topic for a session discussing what yachting can do pro-actively rather than sit back and wait for regulations. Our Executive Director Robert van Tol called this Roadmap yachting’s compass to navigate unchartered waters together. With the quantified targets in 5-year increments for the four life cycle stages of a yacht: Design, Build, Operation and Refit, all yachting stakeholders are connected and have a role to play. While investments in new technologies continue, the infrastructure and local policies would need to be updated in order for clients to go for it and avoid chicken-egg situations.
The Superyacht Coating Conference
Our Environmental Specialist, Awwal Idris, joined the panel at this year’s Superyacht Coating Conference, which returned at a pivotal time for the sector. The session explored the accelerating regulatory shift around antifouling coatings, driven by concerns over biocides that harm marine life, accumulate in sediments and affect sensitive coastal zones. With the IMO AFS Convention, the EU Biocidal Products Regulation and local restrictions on copper and co-biocides already in force – and more substances under review – the trend is clearly moving toward stricter controls and increased interest in non-biocidal alternatives.
The panel underscored the need for a solid Business-as-Usual (BAU) baseline to understand today’s typical environmental impact and to ensure new systems can be meaningfully compared against it. Life Cycle Assessment was highlighted as a practical tool for this process, enabling manufacturers to test scenarios early in formulation, adjust materials, reduce toxicity and refine performance before products reach market. The overarching message: next-generation fouling-control solutions must pair high technical performance with demonstrably lower environmental cost, supported by transparent evidence and clear comparison to BAU.
Yacht 2030
Our PhD student, Ludovico Ruggiero from Politecnico di Milano presented the Yacht 2030 project, a structured, life-cycle-based approach to supporting more environmentally friendly yacht design. The session introduced a practical framework built around three phases: measuring environmental hotspots through Life Cycle Assessment, applying targeted optimisation strategies, and benchmarking designs against both previous configurations and the wider market.
The research presented demonstrated how small but well-informed design decisions – such as selecting aluminium with high recycled content, reducing structural mass through advanced engineering, or integrating remanufactured components – can generate meaningful upstream impact reductions. Early case-study results showed that applying only a handful of targeted guidelines delivered a 10% improvement in the cradle-to-shipyard phase, underscoring the value of embedding Life Cycle Thinking at the concept stage.
by Water Revolution Foundation | 10 Nov 2025 | News
The show season is in full swing, and we are excited to return to The Superyacht Forum and METSTRADE as a strategic partner – and to the very place where the foundation was created in 2018. This year, our focus is on the compass to navigate uncharted waters together. From implementing Roadmap 2050 and advancing the Ocean Assist programme to moderating a session on the next steps for HVO, we’re driving collective progress toward a regenerative yachting sector defined by innovation, responsibility, and shared ambition.
The Superyacht Forum
The week will kick off with our Environmental Scientist, Awwal Idris, taking part in a panel discussion on NXT-GEN Anti-fouling: Asset Performance & Ocean Legacy on Monday 17 November at 14:45–16:00 in rooms E105/E106. This session will explore the latest innovative antifouling technologies and assess the essential need for global collaboration – from industry leaders to authorities – to mitigate this widespread impact.
Also on Monday 17 November at 14:45–16:00 in rooms E102/E108, our Technical Director, Hanna Dabrowska, will moderate a session on The Next Steps for HVO. This session is designed for C-suite leaders to tackle the real barriers to adoption, from quality and engine compatibility to logistics and policy gaps. Together, we’ll drive the transition forward, using collaboration and innovation to shape a future strategy for sector-wide adoption.
On Tuesday 18 November at 11:45–13:00 at The Superyacht Forum, we will discuss the recent IMO postponement: Net-Zero Framework. Our Executive Director, Robert van Tol, will join legislative experts on stage to discuss whether the postponement is a setback or an opportunity for the yachting sector, in alignment with Roadmap 2050.
On Tuesday 18 November at 14:45–16:00 at The Superyacht Forum, our Initiator and Vice Chair, Vienna Eleuteri, will take a closer look at how the yachting community can take actionable steps to implement Roadmap 2050 through adopting Ocean Assist. This session builds on last year’s roadmap vision and will explore concrete tools, pathways, and collaborations needed to accelerate change across the industry. A ticket is required at The Superyacht Forum to attend this session.
METSTRADE 2025
On Wednesday 19 November at 11:45–12:15 on the METSTRADE stage, Smart Interiors Horizon is hosting a session on Redefining Luxury. This discussion will explore how sustainability can be seamlessly embedded into design and production as a natural evolution of quality, creativity, and excellence. Through diverse perspectives and real project examples, the speakers will reflect on how interiors can embody both aesthetic value and environmental consciousness, maintaining timeless appeal while addressing contemporary challenges.
On Wednesday 19 November at 12:00–14:30, we are hosting our annual Matchmaking Workshop. This workshop brings together our Verified Solutions with new-build and refit yards, designers, and yacht managers for a unique opportunity to exchange insights, foster collaboration, and accelerate sustainable innovation across the supply chain.
On Thursday 20 November at 12:15–12:45 on the Superyacht Stage, our Technical Director, Hanna Dabrowska, and PhD student Ludovico, along with a panel of experts, will explore what “Yacht 2030” means for design, technology, and sustainability — showcasing the innovations that will define the next generation of superyachts as we look toward a future where performance, responsibility, and regeneration go hand in hand.
We are proud to present this year’s edition of the Superyacht Sustainability Route at METSTRADE 2025. Continuing our shared commitment to transparency and measurable impact, the Route highlights LCA-verified, third-party–assessed solutions featured within our Hub of Verified Solutions. Look out for the Sustainability Route stamp throughout the show floor — a signpost to verified innovation driving real environmental progress. Explore our Hub of Verified Solutions.
We look forward to seeing you at The Superyacht Forum and METSTRADE! For questions or more information, don’t hesitate to contact us.
