Ditch Single-Use Plastic Today!
The Environmental Crew Guidelines highlight points throughout onboard operations where single-use plastic can be reduced, particularly single-use plastic water bottles. All crew members have a part to play in this, from the captain agreeing to a filtration system and allocating the budget to the engineer implementing and maintaining it to the interior crew sourcing reusable water bottles and encouraging all crew and guests to use them.
So, to help crew make such a positive change, we spoke with Marja Kok, founder of Water without Waste, to discuss her business and how crew can easily switch out single-use plastic water bottles.
The Environmental Crew Guidelines advocate for reducing single-use plastic onboard; how can Water without Waste support this?
WwW's drinking water purification equipment ends the use of plastic bottled water on board, which probably forms the biggest part of the single-use plastic onboard a yacht. Combined with our chilling and sparkling equipment, healthy purified drinking water, ambient, chilled and chilled/sparkling, is available for crew and guests without leaving any (plastic) waste.
What inspired you to start your initiative at Water without Waste? What are your main goals?
After living and working on yachts, travelling the most beautiful parts of the world for 17 years, and seeing too much unsustainable behaviour on yachts, I felt the need to make a change. In my opinion, plastic bottled water was the most obvious unsustainable behaviour. This, combined with people's misunderstanding that plastic bottled water is a healthy source of hydration, made me start Water without Waste after a profound survey among superyacht captains on the subject.
Can you explain how your filtration and purification systems work and how crew can implement them onboard?
Our point-of-use systems purify the yacht's tank water to the highest level at the final stage, just before a drinking water faucet (or countertop dispenser). They are based on a sophisticated reverse osmosis technique to remove all bacteria, pharmaceutical residues, microplastics, disinfection by-products, PFAS, etc. Minerals are added. Our chilling/sparkling equipment can be added as an option for ambient purified drinking water and chilled and sparkling drinking water on tap/dispenser.
Do you encounter any challenges for crew members who want to switch out plastic for reusable bottles? If so, what are these typically, and how do you help them overcome them?
In general, when crew (mostly captain, first officer or engineer) contacts Water without Waste, they already know they want to skip using plastic bottled water. But the typical challenges before that stage are crew thinking that owners/guests want to stick to bottled water (and sometimes a few stubborn crewmembers 😉). I try to explain to them the negative health issues that come with plastic bottled water (240.000 micro/nano plastic particles in each plastic bottle, Bisphenol-A leaching from bottles that have been in higher temperatures, etc.), and the misunderstanding that bottled water always comes from a healthy source (for example some brands fill their bottles with the same water that comes from the tapwater).
What advice do you give crew who encounter guests unwilling to switch to reusable water bottles?
Promote and defend the sustainable policy on board with pride and convince all crew, and if necessary, use our explanations. Make the sustainable policy part of the info that is provided to guests.
How do you see the future looking for crew implementing more sustainable solutions onboard?Â
I strongly believe that this is the only future for crew, yacht owners, yacht management and charter companies. The pressure on the earth and oceans can't be ignored any longer.  Environmental responsible behavior is expected and will make crew feel better. Some sustainable solutions can also make the life of crew easier. Having our solutions on board, for example, also reduces the crew's work (no need to buy, store, or chill plastic bottled water and no plastic waste to get off the ship and to leave on an island without a suitable waste treatment…).
What role do you believe education and awareness play in promoting more sustainable practices among crew and guests?
A lot. Crew on superyachts come from many different backgrounds and countries, meaning there is a lot of difference in their knowledge and attitude towards the environment. Some guests in the luxury superyacht environment tend to think that the world is there for them and need to learn about their responsibilities and the positive change that they can bring. In my time as captain/first officer, education and awareness of crew and owners/guests have always been part of my activities. I would like to see more of this on yachts.
Are there any plans/goals or further product launches for Water without Waste?
We are continuing our mission to make the superyacht industry plastic-bottle-free! Please take a look at our website and contact us for further information.
Thank you, Marja!
If you want to take steps to future-proof our yachting industry and implement better, more environmentally-friendly practices onboard, download the Environmental Crew Guidelines today!
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