Are Sustainable Yacht Toys Possible?

Are sustainable yacht toys really possible? The team at Superyacht Tenders & Toys is a collection of lifelong sailors and watersports enthusiasts and it goes without saying that we want to do our part to protect the environment that we all enjoy. We're therefore working hard to try and reduce our environmental impact and in a superyacht world where everyone wants everything immediately this can have its challenges.

We do feel that times are changing and that everyone needs to step up and be accountable. At SYTT we're working to have a sustainability standard to inspire others and promote products and companies which share in this philosophy. With this in mind we recently launched our own yacht toy and tender rental operation with an office in Monaco and a warehouse in Nice, France. This was partly due to market request but also because when we sell something to a yacht it is only used a handful of times for a single charter and then it's left unused in the back of a garage.

The sharing economy is becoming increasingly popular in our more environmentally aware society, seen with companies such as Urban Outfitters, the clothes sharing company, and Borrow a Boat in the marine industry, who are headline sponsors of Southampton Boat Show in 2019.

Renting equipment to clients is a viable alternative to selling and we believe that the goods will be used more  and the carbon footprint of manufacturing will be reduced, which is better for the environment. Small steps indeed, but positive ones. In line with this environmental consideration we only provide ‘eco-friendly’ rentals, which include wind powered and electric toys.

Owners, captains and crew (especially engineers!) are responding very favourably to this, as there is less chance of an item breaking down on charter as they are all plug and play. Electric toys often have an App that goes along with them so they can be logged into by our team and updates can be done remotely in the event of any issues. This also solves the problem of storing petrol onboard in yacht garages, which are often not certified to store petrol.

For the rental arm of our business, SYTT has partnered with companies that have sustainability programmes in place. A key partner is RS Sailing which has one of the most thorough sustainability policies in the market, considering the way boats are sold, designed and manufactured as well as end of life practices for their boats. As a result, their boats are increasingly built from natural fibre basalt, flax and hemp bio-based epoxy infusion resin.

A recent study found that using natural fibre with bio resin compared to traditional glass fibre with epoxy resin saved 28% on carbon emissions alone. Adding in recycled composite materials this improves even more. An impressive 70% of RS sailboats hulls are now made from 100% recyclable polyethylene material with 70% of RS spars and 50% of foils made of aluminium and being recyclable. SYTT has a fleet of 6 RS21’s available for hire.

If you are looking for a more sustainable way to enjoy your time on the water contact Superyacht Tenders and Toys to discuss our eco options both for rental or purchase.

*All images courtesy Superyacht Tenders and Toys

Originally published on August 20, 2019