The small things
We all have a duty to become more responsible and create a culture of change…
‘Great things are done by a series of small things brought together’, so said Vincent Van Gough, a statement which today rings true as we set our sights on more ecologically conscious business practices. Corporate social responsibility isn’t a model created exclusively for larger enterprises - all of us have an important role to play, so while small changes may seem insignificant it is these that will make a substantial difference in the world.
As an industry largely comprising of small enterprises, it’s important to reiterate that the small changes are just as important as more public and ‘macro’ initiatives. One would be forgiven for thinking that it’s only the more prominent brands in the superyacht industry with a duty to invest ecological practices, but this is simply not the case - all of us are in this together, and we all have a duty to become more responsible and create a culture of change
One would be forgiven for thinking that it’s only the more prominent brands in the superyacht industry with a duty to invest ecological practices, but this is simply not the case - all of us are in this together, and we all have a duty to become more responsible and create a culture of change.
Thankfully, there is now a great deal of welcome pressure from governments around the world forcing people to adopt environmentally considerate practices, and I’m confident our industry is responding to this positively.
To some, it may seem obvious, but it’s important to reiterate that a seemingly minor change such as the avoidance of single use plastic will make a substantial difference, if done by a large number of people. Many companies in the superyacht industry have implemented this simple change, with Dutch sailing yacht builder Vitters a prominent example - taking steps to avoid the use of plastic cups while developing a company-wide initiative to reduce their plastic and energy consumption, and unnecessary waste.
“We are trying to reduce our footprint in every way,” explains Louis Hamming, CEO of Vitters. “The drinking water we have here is the best in the world, as it comes from 120 metres deep and goes through layers of peat that filters it. So why would we buy in our own water in plastic bottles?”
Many others, such as Winch Design, have expressed their dedication towards these simple changes such as a reduction in single use plastic, among many other fantastic initiatives, and I believe that it’s the collective efforts of changes like this that will make a substantive change in the world.
Over the years, the ecological focus has resonated and become increasingly prominent within our own portfolio. The Superyacht Design Forum, for example, will bring together the leading minds in design to agree a sustainable future roadmap and examine the Future of Planet Superyacht. And the message that underlines our special anniversary issue is our company-wide commitment to sustainability advocacy.
The drive for optimised performance, and greater operational efficiency, are the core pillars of the future, and we are all responsible for facilitating a positive change - for the environment’s sake, no matter the scale.
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