With the passenger shipping industry working to translate its environmental commitments into measurable action, circularity is emerging as an increasingly important focus for operators and suppliers of products for cruise ship and ferry interiors. Whereas the traditional, linear model of consumption sees consumers buy, use and then throw away products, the circular approach involves repeatedly reusing resources throughout the value chain to reduce waste and optimise usage.
For signatories of the Sustainable Maritime Interiors (SMI) Declaration – a cross-industry initiative established in 2023 dedicated to designing, building and maintaining more sustainable maritime interiors – embedding circular principles into everyday decision-making is becoming a tangible long-term goal.
My Nguyen, senior director of design and innovation at Holland America Line and Seabourn, says that despite significant practical challenges, the industry is beginning to make progress towards circularity. “Our primary goal is circularity, and in marine interiors it must be applied pragmatically,” she says. “There simply are not enough options in the market yet. However, I’m encouraged by the increase in sustainable products being developed, and by conversations about circularity that are turning into action.”
The SMI Declaration called on signatories to embrace circular design principles for longevity and flexibility, optimised material use, waste reduction and easy maintenance, repair and recycling. For Nguyen, turning those principles into reality means building strong relationships with innovative and forward-thinking suppliers. “At Holland America Line and Seabourn, we are advancing through strategic partnerships with suppliers who offer take-back programmes for materials such as carpet and textiles,” she says. “We are committed to collaborating with companies willing to innovate alongside us, recognising that scaling circularity in this space depends on strong, meaningful partnerships for a deeper cause.”
As circularity starts to become a realistic ambition for operators and designers, they are beginning to consider how materials will be maintained, recovered and reintegrated throughout a vessel’s life. Cassidy Butler, who works alongside Nguyen as an interior sustainability specialist at Holland America Line, says this shift in thinking should begin at the earliest stages of any project. “Circularity should be our industry’s north star, the guiding principle that shapes every decision,” she says. “It is the only environmental model that truly keeps materials out of landfills by ensuring they remain in continuous use – whether through reuse, refurbishment or take-back programmes.”
This commitment is shaping how Butler and the Holland America Line team assess the line’s projects and relationships. “We are actively pursuing take-back programmes and circular partnerships, pushing ourselves to rethink interiors not as one-time installations, but as part of an ongoing material lifecycle,” she says. “Our commitment is to long-term sustainable design.”
The ferry sector is similarly focused on circularity as a long-term goal. Markus Backlund, onboard product manager at Wasaline, says: “Circularity should be a central sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors, as it helps reduce waste, extend the lifecycle of materials, and lower the overall environmental impact throughout the long lifespan of a vessel.”
For Backlund, this means making material selection and interior design work together from the start. “Our approach focuses on selecting durable, modular and certified recyclable materials, as well as designing interiors that allow for easy disassembly and material renewal,” he says. “This enables components to be repaired, replaced or reused rather than discarded.”
He adds that supplier engagement is equally important. “We prioritise collaboration with suppliers who offer verified take-back or refurbishment programmes, ensuring materials can re-enter the value chain at the end of their use phase.”
Despite the commitment among SMI Declaration signatories, obstacles remain in the way of progress towards full circularity. Certified circular materials are often more expensive than alternatives, while the need to stay on trend can get in the way of long-term strategies. “Certain design concepts have short lifecycles due to rapidly changing trends, which can require frequent updates and limit long-term material use,” says Backlund.
Nguyen believes the industry can overcome these obstacles as long as there is sufficient will behind it. “The more specifiers demand products that meet sustainability criteria, the more options will become available in the market at an affordable price,” she says. “I’m confident that if all brands incorporated into their dry dock planning a demand to process materials on-site and partner with vendors that can turn this waste into useful products, it can be a win-win for all parties. The more waste the suppliers can count on processing, the more this type of innovation will become available.”
Butler is clear that while circularity is still a long-term goal, it is a commitment worth pursuing. “We are committed to collaborating with companies willing to innovate alongside us,” she says. “Scaling circularity in this space depends on strong, meaningful partnerships for a deeper cause.”
Reliatex’s Hyphyn is designed to break down in landfill conditions
Circular by design
While operators begin to consider their circularity goals, interior designers are playing an important role in determining how effectively those ambitions can be implemented in practice. Material selection, specification strategies and refurbishment planning all have an influence on how effective reuse, recovery and long-term lifecycle management will be.
Emilie Posniak Hansen led the creation of the Wishing Tree at CSI Hamburg, which invited designers to submit their wishes for a more sustainable cruise interior industry. She suggests that circularity needs to be made into a viable choice for it to be achievable.
“At OSK Design, sustainability is embedded in every design decision – from material selection to end-of-life planning,” she says. “For sacrificial surfaces, this means circular materials and design-for-disassembly solutions where possible. But ambition without infrastructure is just intention. The passenger vessel industry needs clear regulation, financial incentives and cross-sector collaboration to make circularity a valid business case.”
Daniela Herget, owner and consultant at Cruise Quality Consult, believes that circularity must be embedded with the specification process. She says the industry must acknowledge the relatively short refresh cycles common across passenger vessel interiors.
“Many interiors are refreshed within five years,” says Herget. “The question isn’t longevity alone – it’s end-of-life thinking at the moment of specification. Every material installed today needs an exit strategy.”
Herget points to a recent circular carpet project as an example of how closed-loop systems are beginning to emerge within marine interiors.
“I was among the first to specify 50,000 square metres of circular carpet aboard a cruise ship,” she says. “In a few months, we will replace it for the first time, sending back the carpet to its manufacturer Aquafil/Radici to be reused. What goes to sea as carpet comes back as a Prada or Gucci bag and so much more. That’s circularity worth specifying.”
For Helena Sawelin, partner and design and sustainability director at Tillberg Design of Sweden, the question is no longer whether circular solutions exist, but how the industry gets the necessary support to implement them.
“The real challenge is whether the industry is willing to pay the neccessary cost of renovating near recycling facilities or transporting materials to them,” says Sawelin.
She believes meaningful progress is nevertheless achievable through stronger collaboration across the supply chain.
“After years of searching for collaboration, we have identified several companies that can recycle and process residue materials during renovations,” she says, noting that these partners are already handling materials including metals, furniture, cables, electronics, plastics and textiles.
At the same time, some designers believe circularity should form part of a broader lifecycle-based sustainability strategy rather than becoming the sole objective guiding specification decisions. Petra Ryberg, designer and owner of Studio Berg+, says durability and long-term environmental performance can sometimes outweigh strict circularity targets within the operational constraints of cruise interiors.
“I believe looking with a wider lens is important,” she says. “Something that isn’t fully circular but lasts twice as long might actually be better for the environment in the end. It’s crucial to keep the customer experience, economy and full environmental impact of a product in mind.”
Achieving circularity will require action across the passenger shipping industry
Circular innovation
For outfitters and suppliers, circularity is increasingly shaping how products are developed, specified and maintained within passenger ship interiors. Alongside recyclability, companies are also focusing on material longevity, responsible sourcing and reducing waste throughout manufacturing and refurbishment processes.
Camilla Aalbæk Jacobsen, environmental, social and governance manager at Ege Carpets, says material composition can play a major role in improving circular outcomes within marine interiors.
“By offering International Maritime Organization-classified Colortec carpets made from 100 per cent pure wool, Ege Carpets replaces the traditional 80/20 wool-nylon blend and eliminates a key recycling barrier without compromising on design and quality,” says Jacobsen.
For Rachel Guy, senior contact sales director at Ulster Carpets, circularity is only one piece of a broader sustainability picture.
“Circularity is an important ambition for passenger ship interiors, but it should not override sustainability priorities such as responsible sourcing, efficient manufacturing, short supply chains and, crucially, long-term performance,” says Guy.
Paul Pringle, managing director at Solarglide, a blinds and window treatment solution provider, says product design has a direct role to play in supporting circular strategies.
“At Solarglide, we support the ambition to make circularity the ultimate sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors by designing durable, repairable products, made from materials with longer lifecycles, and enabling cruise lines to refit, reuse and upgrade rather than fully replace,” says Pringle.
Carine Equeter, vice president at Morbern Europe, says circularity must be grounded in material innovation and realistic end-of-life solutions.
“Circularity should be the long-term sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors, provided safety and durability are maintained,” she says. “At Morbern Europe, we support this ambition through high bio-based and recycled-content coated fabrics designed to outlast alternatives and reduce replacement cycles.”
Gordon Boggis, CEO of Carnegie Fabrics, urges the industry not to treat circularity as an isolated goal.
“Circularity should be the ultimate goal for passenger ship interiors, and it must be achieved without compromising performance, safety or scalability,” says Boggis. “We also design for end-of-life pathways, including reuse, recycling and energy recovery, helping to reduce waste while meeting stringent maritime standards.”
The Wishing Tree, organised by Emilie Posniak Hansen of OSK Design and Willie Traeger of Holland America Line for CSI Hamburg, invited designers to submit their wishes for a more sustainable cruise interior industry
Dialogue and value
Beyond material innovation and design strategy, industry stakeholders also emphase the importance of cross-sector collaboration and economic viability as prerequisites for meaningful circular progress. For Helen Blantz of the Sustainable Design Summit, creating the right conditions for dialogue is as important as any individual product or specification decision.
”Circularity must be a long-term goal for cruise interiors if the industry is to reduce its environmental footprint,” she says. “Early pilot projects already demonstrate how collaboration across disciplines and supply chains can turn ambition into progress.” She points to the growing awareness of the professionals in charge of commissioning interiors as a sign that momentum is building. “Rising expectations are also evident as specifiers and procurement teams ask more informed, more detailed sustainability questions.”
For Blantz, the exchange of ideas and best practices are crucial for translating intent into action. “Creating space for cross-sector, cross-discipline dialogue is critical to this progress,” she says. “Future gains will come from a cruise community that challenges the status quo, rethinks material usage through partial refits and resource reuse, and embeds end-of-life considerations at the design stage.”
Siu Lie Tan, associate partner and circular regulations navigator at Innoboost, argues that circularity will only scale when it can be shown to make clear financial sense. “Circularity is all about keeping value in the loop,” she says. “Economic viability is the prerequisite for a sustainable solution – scale and efficiencies are what turn circularity into a positive contribution to profit and loss.”
For Tan, this means rethinking the boundaries within which passenger ship interiors are currently designed and delivered. “From the design stage and use phase to the moment of refurbishment, the focus should be on adjusting existing processes and identifying and connecting the ecosystem needed to establish circularity,” she says. “Together with the brands, we co-create the conditions in which resource efficiency becomes profit to be proud of.”
Cristallux uses Alamar, a completely recyclable material, in its light fixtures
Industry insights
Suppliers, outfitters and designers share their perspectives on whether circularity should be the ultimate sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors
Circularity should not be the ultimate sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors. However, it’s worth saying that over the past 10 years, vendors and manufacturers have done a great job of embracing circularity and that is a good thing. At Studio DADO, we have a slightly different take. Good design is sustainable; and great design is timeless. Shouldn’t that be the ultimate goal? Great design defies unending cycles of renovation and replacement. When we specify materials and products, we try to think about long-term value instead of first costs. A piece of furniture that will last 10 years (with some simple reupholstering) is far more sustainable than one that has to be replaced every two years.
Yohandel Ruiz, Founding Partner, Studio DADO
Circularity should be a defining goal for the marine industry, as a material’s sustainability story reflects not only the wider environmental impact of a singular project, but also of the entire industry. As designers and specifiers, we must look beyond straightforward longevity and consider second and third life applications for every product. The marine sector has long led in innovation and is poised to be at the forefront of this critical resolution. By leveraging our industry’s vast intellectual, social and cultural resources, we can overcome barriers in sourcing, certification and reuse to fully embrace the SMI Declaration.
Johnathan J. Styles, Founder and Principal, Styles Studio Collaborative
Circularity is a relevant long-term goal, but in the marine industry it must be implemented through realistic, compliant solutions.
Today, we engineer luminaires with long lifespans, using durable materials and serviceable structures that allow key components to be replaced rather than discarded. While certification and safety requirements are integral to our solutions, early-stage specifications, cost pressures and project timelines may still favour off-the-shelf solutions, but we see growing alignment toward more durable, lifecycle-based design.
Aldona Makinen, CEO and Marine Lighting Designer, TVV Marine
Circularity is essential for the future, but it goes beyond recycling. The ability to recycle must never justify overconsumption or inefficient resource use. Instead, circularity requires a holistic approach that prioritises material health, quality and durability. Recycled does not automatically mean sustainable; true circularity is about optimising resource use and should be guided by the waste hierarchy: refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle. Responsible production, high-quality materials and long product lifetimes are therefore fundamental to reducing impact and ensuring materials retain their value over time. Achieving meaningful impact also requires collaboration across the industry to develop shared solutions, rather than focusing solely on competitive advantage.
Lone Ditmer, CEO, Dansk Wilton
Circularity is a strong candidate for the ultimate sustainability goal in passenger ship interiors, though it isn’t a comprehensive solution. Moving towards closed-loop material systems can reduce lifecycle impact, given the frequent refurbishment of cruise and ferry spaces.
Engineered to break down in landfill conditions, Reliatex’s Hyphyn biodegradable performance vinyl addresses end-of-life impact in a way traditional vinyl never has, all while maintaining the durability, cleanability and refined aesthetic expected at sea.
Neil Miller, Director of Business Development, Reliatex
Companies that actively embrace circularity can differentiate themselves and gain a competitive advantage, as sustainability requirements are becoming increasingly important for passenger ship interiors, driven by stricter regulations and market developments. At Forest Group, we actively follow these trends and translate them into our product offering. For example, we offer aluminium curtain tracks with up to 95 per cent recycled content, helping us reduce our impact step by step. At the same time, challenges remain, such as regulatory requirements, certification processes, the availability of high-quality recycled materials. Further progress will require practical collaboration across the value chain and clear, achievable industry guidelines.
Dion Bosch, Business Development Manager, Forest Group
Remer Rubinetterie considers circularity extremely important. For this reason, Remer develops solutions designed to reduce water consumption, uses highly recyclable materials such as brass and stainless steel, and adopts low-impact Physical Vapour Deposition finishes, produced in-house. Remer customises mixer flow rates to meet specific client needs. Its cradle-to-cradle design approach ensures all internal components can be disassembled, allowing separation of metal parts and full recyclability at end of life. Remer also manufactures cartridges and flexible hoses in-house, ensuring long-term traceability and availability of spare parts.
Eleonore Seilles, Contract Manager, Remer Rubinetterie
EdLab Interior believes circularity should be the long-term sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors. In our field, one practical step in that direction is refurbishment instead of automatic full replacement. At EdLab Interior, we support this approach through renewal solutions such as wrapping, wallpaper replacement and surface preparation, helping extend the life of existing interiors with less invasive interventions. One of the key barriers is that refurbishment is still often undervalued compared with replacement. That is why we focus on execution quality, finish consistency and practical methods that show renewal can be both responsible and commercially viable.
Artur Iwasinik, Founder and Managing Director, EdLab Interior
Circularity should be the ultimate sustainability goal for passenger ship interiors, provided it is practical across the full lifecycle. At Cristallux, our proprietary material for our lighting fixtures, Alamar, is 100 per cent recyclable, and we have already achieved circularity in production by recycling all cut-offs into the next production run. The same applies to old fixtures: Alamar can be recovered and reused for new fixtures. The main barrier is global dry dock logistics – transport emissions and costs can outweigh the recycling benefit. To scale this responsibly, the industry needs a worldwide partner network to enable local collection, recycling and remanufacturing.
Olaf Schindler, International Project Manager, Cristallux
True circularity in passenger ship interior refurbishments is ambitious but essential for all aiming for a more sustainable future. At Ocean Outfit, we prioritise sustainable practices across all projects. This includes partnering with suppliers offering IMO-compliant sustainable options.
Whether refreshing or fully redesigning onboard spaces, we aim to upcycle furniture that remains within its lifespan rather than replace it. Techniques such as hard surface repairs, French polishing, hardware replacement and reupholstery help extend product life. Importantly, these efforts are always balanced with maintaining design intent and ensuring a high-quality passenger experience.
Melanie Warden, Project Manager, Ocean Outfit