86 INTERVIEW Sustainability in every strand Aquafil’s R2R initiative has been embraced by carpet manufacturer Radici Marine and AIDA Cruises’ for its recent refitting of AIDAdiva. Cristina Stefani of Aquafil shares more The use of more sustainable materials in marine interiors is on the rise as more products become available on the market. Aquafil, a global manufacturer of nylon 6, through its Born Regenerated to be Regenerable (R2R) project, aims to reduce the environmental impact of carpet in the maritime sector. This initiative focuses on how carpets are designed and manufactured, thereby implementing the ‘design for recycling’ concept, as well as addressing their end-of-life management. “There is a vast amount of carpet waste generated by cruise ships, which typically ends up in landfill or incinerators due to the complexity of separating materials for recycling, the lack of recycling facilities and poor reverse logistics infrastructure; the R2R project was created to tackle this,” explains Cristina Stefani, marketing strategist for circularity projects at Aquafil. “The R2R project involves close collaboration with carpet manufacturers to ensure every component chosen for manufacturing the carpet is compatible compatible for recycling with Aquafil’s ECONYL chemical regeneration plant. A key requirement for a carpet to be R2R is a significant part of its pile must be made from ECONYL nylon – a true circular material. On the one hand, ECONYL is produced entirely from waste, such as discarded fishing nets, fabric scraps and old carpets; on the other hand, it can be regenerated infinitely, without ever compromising quality.” Each R2R carpet, for marine applications, must also be certified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Aquafil recently teamed up with Italian carpet manufacturer Radici Marine to create textile flooring for AIDAdiva, which was the first AIDA ship to undergo refurbishment as part of the cruise line’s Evolution programme (read more about the project on page 68). “AIDA Cruises has been the first cruise line to firmly believe in the R2R programme, opening the doors for Aquafil to this innovative project,” says Stefani. “They proved to be true early adopters, especially considering how the cruise industry, with its long-standing tradition, has historically always used wool 80/20 carpet instead. The introduction of a new product like carpet in nylon 6 can lead to an understandable scepticism towards a “ We are engaging with key players and decision makers to expand awareness and truly embrace circularity ” Cristina Stefani Aquafil The cross-functional team representing Aquafil, AIDA Cruises, and Radici Marine
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