Now to most of us the idea of a luxury super yacht being at all green is pretty strange. After all, aren’t they the floating gin palaces of the very rich that guzzle huge amounts of fuel and have every electrical gadget and gizmo known to man onboard? So you may be surprised to find that a lot of yacht owners are very conscious of green issues and want to make their luxury sailing vessels as sustainable as they can.  Yacht owners who charter their vessels are also very aware that more and more of their customers are becoming very conscious of green issues and of trying to protect our planet.

So what can you do to improve the green credentials of your super yacht?  Probably one of the biggest concerns for a large, luxury yacht owner is the huge amounts of fuel that they use.  One way to counteract this large fuel use is to enter into a yacht carbon offset scheme. These schemes have been set up to balance the carbon emissions of your super yacht’s engines through carbon offsetting. The principle behind these schemes is that for every tonne of carbon dioxide that is created by your luxury yacht’s engines, the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide is saved elsewhere by projects such as methane recovery or producing renewable power. A super yacht owner can also ensure that when they purchase a new vessel that they choose the latest technology when it comes to the engines and exhaust systems, so that fuel efficiency is optimised and that the engines produce the lowest level of emissions possible.  For owners of older vessels who are concerned about protecting the environment, they could even look into retro-fitting systems that lower dangerous emissions or improve fuel consumption.

But there are also green choices that you can make when fitting out the interior of your super yacht. Many yachts use wood panelling to line interior walls and expensive wood for the furnishings, but if your luxury yacht does use a lot of wood as a design feature, you can make sure that you only use wood from sustainable sources and that is preferably organic.   Rare, exotic woods such as teak and mahogany are very expensive and luxurious and look gorgeous, but you need to be careful that any hardwoods you buy are from sustainable sources and have not been ripped out of a rainforest somewhere, causing huge damage. Organic wood is free from all the nasty chemicals that are used in the fertilisers and pest control when non-organic commercial wood is grown, which is not only better for your health and the health of your passengers, but is also kinder to the environment. As you are outfitting your luxury super yacht also check that you are using solid wood panelling as pressed wood can contain large amounts of formaldehyde, which is a very harsh chemical.

A luxury yacht will also be lavishly stocked with beautiful bed linen, soft fluffy towels and robes, comfortable cushions, elegant curtains and other soft furnishings.  If you are committed to going as green as possible you will want to look for items that have been made from organic cotton and natural fibres. There is still a perception out there that organic cotton bedding looks slightly dingy, feels a bit rough and that the design is just not first class. Nothing could be further from the truth, as modern organic cotton duvet covers, sheets, and pillowcases come in crisp, bright whites, soft pastel colours and feels sleek and cosy as you snuggle down into your bed.  Look at The Fine Cotton Company’s amazing organic cotton bed linen ranges to find luxurious, well-designed organic bed linen at reasonable prices.   Organic cotton is grown without using chemical pesticides and fertilisers, the farmers are properly recompensed for their labour and no chemicals, such as formaldehyde, are used when spinning and processing the cotton. Remember, even on a luxury cruise you will spend many hours sleeping, so wouldn’t you rather wrap yourself in organic cotton sheets and not have to breathe in or absorb any dangerous chemicals?

You can also do your bit for the environment when it comes to the catering, even if you are cooking large feasts for your fellow passengers each night.  You can now buy excellent organic wines, champagnes and spirits, so why not stock your bar with organic booze when you can? Likewise, stock the kitchen with organic meat, fruit, vegetables, baked goods and dairy products when you can get hold of them. Not only will they be delicious for your family and guests, but organic food is also very healthy and is grown in a way that helps to protect our planet.

So when you are stretched out on the organic cotton cushions of your sustainable wood lounger, sipping organic champagne, by the side of the swimming pool on the deck of your super yachts as it cuts through the turquoise waters of the Caribbean or the Med, you can truly relaxing knowing that you have done your best to create a truly green luxury yacht!