Marine Impact Lab launches to help marine businesses cut costs, risks and emissions

Marine Impact Lab banners final promo © Marine Futures Ltd

A bold new industry platform, the Marine Impact Lab, has launched today to turn sustainability ambition into profitable action for marine businesses.

Created by leading consultancies Marine Futures and Foxall Munro, the Marine Impact Lab will debut at Metstrade in Amsterdam on November 17.

Limited to just 100 seats, the Lab is a one-day, hands-on experience bringing together engineers, designers, sustainability leads, marketers and commercial decision-makers from across the marine industry.

With support from 11th Hour Racing, World Sailing, ICOMIA, Metstrade, Northern Lights Composites and The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, the Lab offers a rare opportunity to step out of the day-to-day, collaborate with peers, and focus on the practical actions that will define the future of the sector.

Director at Marine Futures, Ollie Taylor, said: "The marine industry already has many of the tools and solutions it needs to reduce impact and build future-proof businesses. What's been missing is a space to bring people together to collaborate, share ideas and inspiration, and turn that potential into real progress. That's why we created the Marine Impact Lab, to help drive the industry forward, together."

With legislation tightening, material costs rising, and customer expectations shifting, the pressure on marine businesses to adapt has never been greater. The Lab provides direct access to proven frameworks that help teams not only reduce environmental impact but build more agile, resilient operations aligned with long-term commercial success.

Co-Founder at Foxall Munro, Damian Foxall, said: "There's a lot of noise around sustainability, but not nearly enough clarity on what good looks like, the commercial outcomes, or how to actually deliver it. The Marine Impact Lab is designed to cut through that. It gives teams the structure, tools and space to focus on what matters, and to leave with confidence, clarity and a clear plan to move our industry forward."

At the heart of the Lab are two specialist tracks, each designed to reflect real-world roles and challenges.

The Product Track, led by Marine Futures, explores life cycle assessment (LCA), sustainable design, efficiency and end-of-life planning.

The Organisation Track, delivered by Foxall Munro, equips internal teams with tools for carbon reporting, stakeholder engagement, governance, and embedding sustainability across operations.

Participants will work through four structured sessions in their chosen track, supported by expert facilitators, breakout drills, and case-based learning.

The Lab builds on methodologies already delivering commercial and environmental value across the sector.

Williams Jet Tenders used MarineShift360's lifecycle modelling to launch Evene, a new low-impact tender line, while cutting operational waste by 21 percent. North Sails unlocked solar investments projected to save over 600 tonnes of carbon annually, while Starboard used the tool to design a concept version of its Olympic windsurf board using lower-impact materials, developing a board with 19 per cent lower emissions overall.

Foxall Munro's Sustainability Toolbox now supports more than 950 professionals across 95 sectors, providing step-by-step free templates for global users to self-audit and customise their sustainability processes.

The Australian Olympic Committee is using the Toolbox to assist national sports federations in the long-term planning and sustainability implementations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

The Toolbox is also used by the Association of National Olympic Committees, international universities, and small-to-medium size enterprises to help plan events and design comprehensive sustainability strategies for all stakeholders.

Tickets are priced at €150, including a fully catered day of interactive workshop sessions, expert speakers and resources, as well as a networking lunch and happy hour to close the day.

Spaces are strictly limited, Reserve your place now.

This Metstrade event marks the start of a global series designed to build a connected, capable network of marine professionals equipped for change.

Exhibition Manager at Metstrade, Patricia Becker, said: "We are incredibly happy to work alongside the Marine Impact Lab and the other key stakeholders on this joint approach.

"While many initiatives in the marine industry focus on sustainability, we believe that by emphasising the critical importance of collaboration and actively working together, we can achieve significantly greater collective impact. The Marine Impact Lab represents a vital step forward in fostering this unified effort."