15 to innovate. “I’ve seen first hand that innovation accelerates when partners across design, sourcing and manufacturing share common sustainability goals,” she says. “When everyone at the table has a stake in the outcome, challenges such as costs, logistics or material constraints tend to turn from barriers into new opportunities for collaborative problem solving.” Holland America Line’s partnership with Danish carpet manufacturer Dansk Wilton is a “small but meaningful” example, says Nguyen. “Together, we’ve repurposed carpet waste into branded coasters that we sell to our guests. It’s not a large scale solution on its own, but it demonstrates how creative thinking can turn waste into something purposeful, financially viable and engaging for both our guests and partners. We’re interested in taking lessons from examples like this and applying them at a larger scale where possible.” As an ardent advocate of circular design and environmental sustainability, Nguyen hopes this project will encourage other passenger shipping operators to follow in Holland America Line’s footsteps when working on their own newbuild and refurbishment projects. “To me, success is embedding sustainability into the full design and development process, from early concepts through material selection, sourcing and long-term maintainability,” says Nguyen. “This approach naturally drives innovation and raises expectations in the market. My hope is that sustainable interior design can demonstrate what’s possible, and that criteria such as beauty, compliance with International Maritime Organization regulations, maintainability, affordability and sustainability can increasingly become standard expectations.” While Nguyen wants the industry to take note of Holland America Line’s sustainability achievements, her aim is for guests to feel as though it has been woven authentically to the brand. “The guest experience will always come first,” she says. “We want guests to step onboard and immediately feel an elevated ambience that is unmistakably Holland America Line; beautiful art that tells a story, layered colours and textures and an overall sense of elegance that feels authentic to the brand. I want them to sense we have created spaces that feel welcoming and familiar yet refreshed and more elegant – like a home away from home. I hope they will be impressed by the elevated feel of the interiors and the way sustainability is thoughtfully integrated into the design.” “ My hope is that sustainable interior design can demonstrate what’s possible” KEYNOTE My Nugyen and her team are working with partners like Dansk Wilton to find ways of reusing or repurposing waste materials
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