June 23, 2025 CirclesOfLife gave stakeholders an aligned catch-up on the project of sustainable, circular and competitive shipbuilding. It is about enhancing material circularity and reducing emissions in shipbuilding by focusing on all non-operational phases in a ship’s lifecycle.
Method for evaluating sustainability and circularity
Jorinus Kalis, project coordinator of CirclesOfLife, explained the core of the project: “We are creating a method for evaluating the sustainability and circularity of ships and shipyards within the industry, in collaboration with the industry. Once CirclesOfLife is finished, shipyards and shipowners can:
- Identify environmental impact hotspots and decide on effective improvements
- Objectively decide on circular alternatives
- Support competitiveness and compliance with EU regulations
Prepare for legislation
In response to a question from an attendee about willingness or obligations, Antidia Citores, on behalf of Green Marine Europe, stressed that although there is no mandatory obligation yet, legislators will use the results of CirclesOfLife as input for future regulations and legislation. Matthias Krause added the importance of this position tool to measure your ship(yard), where you are on greenness levels, is also a showcase for your customers and an advertising usp.
Responsible business management
The EU’s roadmap to climate neutrality drives innovation, the circular economy and green jobs. The principles of a circular economy are preserving natural capital, designing for waste prevention, eliminating negative externalities and fostering (re)cycling. The focus of a sustainable economy should be on prevention and preparing for re-use instead of responsible disposing.
“There are so many options before dismantling”
Benedetta Mantoan
What-where-how
Martin Verboom presented and elaborated on the three instruments to get the insights in the level of sustainability.
- SEPI: Shipyards Environmental performance index
- SCMP: Ship Circular Materials Passport
- SLP: Ship Lifecycle Passport
They will become indispensable to know what, where and how to measure, assess, and report to improve the environmental footprint of the shipbuilding processes. The passports assist with how to decide on maximising circularity and lowering environmental footprint.
Theory meets practice
Matthias Krause bridged theory and practices in the maritime sector. Case studies are being held for new builds, repair and maintenance, as well as end-of-life ship decommissioning. You need to understand the current state, explore possible solutions for emission reduction, choose assessment methods and perform them; together with feedback, an inventory and best practice guide will become available. Alternatives for the process of painting a ship were studied and presented to demonstrate a method of modelling a scorecard on the impact of solutions based on four criteria: environmental, economic, technical and social.
Martin and Jorinus explained, in response to a question, that the software created in CirclesOfLife will not generate the CSRD report, but its outcomes can be used as input for your own CSRD reporting tool.
In short
Rosanne van Houwelingen moderated and closed the webinar with the round-up: The concepts of sustainability and circularity in the maritime sector are considering the whole maritime chain in the non-operational phase of design, build, operation, and dismantling. The CirclesOfLife consortium, consisting of professionals from all over the EU, is developing solutions benefiting the maritime sector to enhance circularity and reduce emissions, which will be translated into practical applications in the maritime industry.
Stay informed
Do you want to stay informed on the developing results of CirclesOfLife and prepare your company for a circular, sustainable, and competitive future?
- Register below to our newsletter to stay informed about CirclesOfLife and our 2nd webinar.
- Save the date of our upcoming event: September 24, 2025 Green Shipping Industry Day Brussel
- Watch the entire webinar recording at our YouTube-channel
Additional context
Stakeholders in the maritime supply chain must comply with environmental regulations. CirclesOfLife guides you through the implications of evolving EU regulations. These will impact four criteria: technical, social, environmental and financial. CirclesOfLife can support shipyards in becoming more future-proof by monitoring their environmental footprint and enhancing circularity within the maritime supply chain in the non-operational phase.
Speakers list at the webinar
- Jorinus Kalis – CirclesOfLife project coordinator; Development Manager at Damen Shipyards
- Antidia Citores – General Manager of Green Marine Europe association
- Michael Hübler – R&D Manager Center of Maritime Technologies
- Matthias Krause – R&D Manager Center of Maritime Technologies
- Benedetta Mantoan – Policy Officer at NGO Shipbreaking Platform
- Martin Verboom – Development Engineer Sustainability at Damen
- Rosanne van Houwelingen – Innovation project manager at Netherlands Maritime Technology
