FSC focuses on the yachting industry for more sustainable forestry

A new industry initiative launched by the FSC certification scheme, the Forest Stewardship Council, is focusing on the impact of the yachting industry on the world’s forests and promoting sustainable practices.

The yachting sector uses large volumes of timber which makes it crucial to ensure that the industry helps set standards for the origin of its timber. A pact and a new platform have been launched to boost the initiative.

Kristian Jørgensen, technical advisor at FSC Denmark, said, “Yachts are an extreme luxury product, but the industry is also an important sector in the innovation of new and greener solutions for the shipbuilding industry in general. We often see innovation in the areas of engine technology, energy efficiency, synthetic fibres, and the direct impact of different materials on the marine environment. But the time has come to pay more attention to the timber that is used.”

Starting with the luxury yachts sector, FSC is now focusing on urging the industry to support better sustainability by providing inspiration, business cases, and help for developing responsible procurement policies.

FSC is also encouraging the yachting industry to sign up to a pact that will help the sector to set clear sustainability goals for its purchasing and use of materials sourced from the world’s forests.

Jørgensen continued, “This initiative encourages businesses to set targets which FSC, with its wide-ranging experience, supports by providing guidance and expert advice. Both in terms of the practical implementation of policies and incorporating sustainability on a wider scale than just certification.”

Large volumes of timber are often found in the masts, booms and decking on board vessels, and also in the structure itself, the yacht’s interiors, in floors and fine detail on rudders.

If the origin of the wood is known, and it is sustainable, the choice of timber as a material is both a responsible and climate-friendly solution. But if the origin of the timber is not known, there is a risk that the timber value chain has had a negative impact on the forests and on the people that make their living there.

Jørgensen continued, “We cannot talk about this industry without talking about the sector’s historical dependence on teak from Myanmar. Yacht decking has shown itself to be the Achilles’ heel of the industry. The use of natural teak is not just justified by the luxurious look of the timber, but by the extreme technical quality of the wood.”

With this new initiative, FSC intends to push forward to find responsible alternatives. The yachting industry is in the process of adapting – but this also presents its own challenges. Fast innovation is required, innovation that can create new types of decking that is both durable and able to meet the industry’s aesthetic requirements.

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