Rethinking Circularity and Performance in Materials
Across all 13 halls of RAI Amsterdam, one trend stood out: circularity is moving from concept to action.
The Sustainable Innovation Hub, co-hosted by World Sailing and The Sustainability Toolbox, brought this to life. Exhibitors showcased solutions that reuse, repurpose, and recycle materials in ways that are actually scalable. Visitors could benchmark product circularity, access free sustainability resources, and speak directly with the practitioners behind the tools.
Royal 3D illustrated this shift clearly. Their additive manufacturing process transforms recycled plastics and reclaimed wood into durable components, including the new DAME trophy made entirely from reprocessed materials. AMufacture built on that theme with 3D-printed parts that use seventy-five percent recycled polymer and remove the need for surplus stock, helping race fleets like SailGP reduce their environmental footprint.
The rope industry painted an honest picture of progress and remaining friction. Marlow has matched the performance of traditional yarns using 100 percent recycled polyester yarns from plastic bottles, yet cost and demand remain barriers. Recycling used ropes is still difficult due to contamination and mixed fibres, but repurposing and life-extension strategies are gaining traction. Robline highlighted that while full circularity in high-load ropes is still technically challenging, improvements in packaging, transport efficiency and diverting production offcuts to other industries are meaningful steps the sector can take right now.
Several discussions at the Yacht Racing Forum added important context to the sustainability landscape. Technical panels explored new end-of-life pathways for IMOCA yachts, AI-driven design processes, and the role of regulation in accelerating cleaner materials. In the conversations held at the composite materials panel, engineers and designers argued that sustainability can no longer sit outside the performance equation. Performance has traditionally meant speed, but the discussion challenged whether that definition is still sufficient. Sustainability, they argued, must be treated as a core performance metric in its own right. In the IMOCA class, mandatory Life Cycle Assessments introduced in 2021 have already driven tangible change, including rules that forced new builds to reduce emissions by fifteen percent after moulds and foil platforms emerged as major polluters. The data is clear: carbon fibres account for up to half of a racing yacht’s total footprint. Reducing or limiting their use offers an immediate impact, even if complete removal is unrealistic. Biobased alternatives exist, but adoption is slowed by cost, confidence and fragmented decision-making across the supply chain. The panel repeatedly returned to the same question: not whether change is possible, but where compromise is acceptable, and how quickly the industry is willing to move.
Sustainability is becoming a technical discipline. It is measured, engineered and operational rather than theoretical.
Propulsion and Power Get Cleaner
The Next Gen Zone showcased trailblazing solutions in materials, propulsion and circular design, revealing how quickly clean power systems are evolving. Electric, hybrid and alternative-fuel technologies are maturing, supported by better data insights from IEMA on energy use, noise, vibration and efficiency. Meanwhile the expanded Propulsion Showcase highlighted alternative fuels and zero-emission systems.
The leap in power technology was best demonstrated in one of the biggest stories of 2025: the launch of Magic Carpet e. The first fully electric racing Maxi delivers the equivalent of three Golf GTIs of silent power at the touch of a button. The boat is twenty percent lighter than a traditional Maxi, built with America’s Cup precision, and capable of racing all day without burning fuel. The design team placed batteries deep in the bilges for stability and used twelve years of racing data to model energy needs.
© Images Courtesy of Francesco Ferri
© Images Courtesy of Francesco Ferri
Meanwhile, foiling technology continues to move into the mainstream. Once exclusively a grand-prix racing feature, foiling is now being explored for recreational boats and even superyachts to reduce drag and cut fuel consumption.
These ideas were echoed at the Yacht Racing Forum, where panellists noted that clean propulsion and sustainable power systems will soon be a competitive advantage. Sailing leaders predicted that offshore racing could be fuel-free within five years, driven by renewable onboard energy and smarter systems. Performance and sustainability are no longer separate goals. They are converging.
Cleaning and Practical Decisions
Not all progress relies on futuristic technology. It often comes down to simple, everyday choices onboard and in marinas and boatyards.
Nuncas presented data showing how everyday cleaning products contribute to chemical contamination in European coastal waters. According to EMTER and the European Environment Agency, eighty percent of Europe’s seas show chemical contamination, with around twenty percent linked to maritime activities such as boat cleaning. Traditional detergents used in marinas often contain chlorine, ammonia and acids that are toxic to marine life, accumulate in organisms and reduce oxygen levels through eutrophication. Port pollution is continuous and largely invisible, with detergents, oils and wastewater having a greater impact than many realise.
Nuncas’ seawater-biodegradable range, tested under OECD 306 standards, offers a practical alternative. Plant-based, free from microplastics and packaged in one hundred percent recycled materials, it reframes maintenance as a culture of care that protects both boats and the sea.
Two of the most notable winners in this year’s DAME Design Awards were the Environmental category winners, highlighting a similar shift in onboard choice-making. Digital Yacht’s Bilge iQ gives boat owners real-time insights into bilge pump activity, helping detect leaks, monitor energy use and reduce unnecessary pump cycles. ONE Palma’s IFS Multi Tradewind Sail, often nicknamed the “Batman Sail,” demonstrated how multi-purpose sail design can cut the number of sails needed onboard while maintaining efficiency across a wide range of wind angles. Less material, more versatility, and smarter use of resources.
This pragmatic angle was reflected at the Yacht Racing Forum, where speakers emphasised that sustainability depends not only on futuristic composites or new power systems, but on the cumulative effect of practical decisions. Speakers stressed that travel remains one of sailing’s biggest carbon impacts and called for smarter logistics and shared infrastructure. From extending equipment lifespan and improving everyday maintenance, to waste systems, scrubber discharges and the need for better infrastructure at major sailing destinations, destination and event organisers highlighted gaps and discussed opportunities. The panelists acknowledged that long-term progress depends on how events are organised and how the sport engages new generations. The low-hanging fruit is real, measurable and available now.
Other Sustainability Initiatives at Metstrade 2025
Beyond the headline zones, Metstrade featured a wide ecosystem of initiatives pushing sustainability from multiple angles. The Superyacht Sustainability Route guided visitors toward products verified through third-party LCAs, and the Marine Impact Lab brought together leaders from World Sailing, ICOMIA, BAR Technologies, Kairos, Holy Technologies and Northern Light Composites to tackle the sector’s toughest challenges. Metstrade also looked inward, introducing the Metstrain for lower-impact travel and adopting sustainable stand design to reduce single-use plastics. Even the apparel sector showed progress, with innovations like Henri-Lloyd’s Ocean Pro signalling a new benchmark for performance gear built with fewer chemicals and more recycled materials. As Knut Frostad, CEO of Henri-Lloyd put it, “We have no choice but to remove harmful chemicals and push for cleaner materials. Sailing has become an ambassador for protecting the oceans. We have to drive this change and show what is possible.”
The overarching theme was clear: sustainability is multidimensional. It spans environmental impact, resource use, event design, innovation incentives and long-term performance targets. The work ahead requires collaboration, honesty and a willingness to rethink how the sport operates at every level.
A Sector in Transition, Not Yet Transformed
Metstrade 2025 reflected an industry in motion. Sustainability has moved out of the promise phase and into real-world application, with solutions being tested, built and raced. Recycled materials are gaining traction, clean propulsion is advancing, and production models are beginning to change.
Yet the shift is still underway. Costs remain a barrier. Recycling pathways need strengthening. Market demand must grow to match the pace of innovation. Real progress will come from transparency, educating consumers on how performance and sustainability are equals, and a willingness to challenge long-held assumptions. The momentum is building, and the sport feels more ready than ever to evolve.
The future of sustainable sailing will not arrive in a single breakthrough. It will appear upgrade by upgrade, decision by decision, across every hall and workshop, shaped by the ideas sparked along the way.
