We are developing the Shipyard Environmental Performance Index (SEPI) to enable shipyards to measure, assess, and improve their environmental footprints. SEPI will provide a standardized framework for monitoring and enhancing sustainability across new building, repair, and end-of-life yards, ensuring environmentally friendly practices. Once ready and approved, everyone can use SEPI.
The Ship Lifecycle Passport (SLP) is a means of documenting the lifecycle of materials used in shipbuilding, from design and production to repair and recycling. This passport promotes the reuse and recycling of components, reducing waste and fostering a circular economy within the wider maritime industry. The participating shipyards, suppliers, researchers, NGO’s and associations aim to develop a practical tool for all those involved in creating, maintaining and dismantling ships.
Our consortium comprises leading European shipyards, technology providers, NGOs and other stakeholders. By combining our diverse expertise, resources and combined age-long experience, we ensure comprehensive and effective solutions to the challenges of sustainable shipbuilding. Indeed, CirclesOfLife sees competitors joining forces to book results!
We are integrating smart software applications into existing IT infrastructures at shipyards. We aim to use both existing software in a smart way and develop new software, and if needed hardware. These applications will support data collection, analysis, and reporting, enabling accurate assessments of environmental performance and facilitating compliance with sustainability standards and regulations.
Our team includes experts in process modeling and life cycle performance assessment (LCPA). Collaborating closely with shipyards, we design scientifically sound methodologies that are practical and effective, driving sustainable practices in the industry.
Realising that introducing SLP and SEPI can only succeed if the process is coordinated by an independent, knowledgeable organization, the project includes NGOs, especially the Surfrider Foundation Europe (SFE, coordinator of the Green Marine Europe initiative for environmental self-assessment of shipyards) and the Shipbreaking Platform (advocating a safe environment in shipbreaking facilities).
They play a crucial role in our approach, coordinating the promotion of awareness and acceptance of SEPI and the SLP. Their involvement ensures broad applicability and support within the maritime community.
We aim to establish the resulting methods and monitoring systems of CirclesOfLife as industry standards. Through support from industry associations, NGOs and regulatory bodies, we will facilitate market uptake, making these tools integral to (promoting) sustainable shipbuilding practices.
Co-funded by
the European Union
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101138013.
Disclaimer: This page reflects only the authors’ views. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.