In continuation of the insights shared during the Smart Interior Horizon (SIH) panel at METSTRADE, Pressmare sat down with Farouk Nefzi, Chief Marketing Officer of Feadship, to explore the shipyard’s sustainability philosophy, its approach to interiors, and the growing importance of purpose in yachting.

PM - Feadship is known for its strong stance on sustainability. Do you follow a broad, overarching strategy, or does each department - for example, interiors or fit-out - work with its own specific approach?

FN - We have a very clear overarching strategy. You may know our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2030, which is a broad framework that covers the entire lifecycle of a yacht. Sustainability for us is much more than propulsion or engineering. It includes everything: the upstream materials, the construction process, the use phase, and the refit cycle throughout a yacht’s life.

Our involvement with the Water Revolution Foundation and our contribution to the YETI (Yacht Environmental Transparency Index) reflect this holistic view. We helped define the index, which is built around a full lifecycle methodology. That means that interior materials, coatings, adhesives, resins, insulation, packaging, everything is included in our sustainability considerations. Take wood, for example. We try to guide designers to think creatively about reducing teak and using certified alternatives. Yet sometimes we see the opposite: more teak being used not only on decks but also in ceilings and exterior panelling. We do our best to influence that. On some yachts, like Project 713, we used plantation teak for all decking as part of our commitment to certified, responsibly sourced materials.

We also look at crew and worker health, recyclability, end-of-life options, alternative decking materials, and supply chain waste. And beyond interiors, we integrate hybrid diesel-electric systems, hydrogen fuel cells, as seen on Project 821, HVO-capable generators, and highly optimised hull forms such as those on Breakthrough and Valor. These are all high-profile examples of our sustainability work. But the reality is this: achieving Net Zero over a yacht’s entire lifetime depends heavily on how owners operate their vessels. We provide the infrastructure; the rest happens during the yacht’s use phase, which is where most emissions occur.

PM - Are you creating educational opportunities for owners, designers, or captains to help them understand sustainability and lifecycle impact?

FN - Yes, absolutely. We train crew and everyone involved in each yacht we deliver. We also organise Captain Summits and Broker Summits, which serve to educate those who strongly influence owners’ decisions. It’s about ensuring they’re up to date with the latest developments and understand their role in the sustainability evolution. When it comes to owners, it depends on the individual. Some owners, like the one behind Valor, are extremely involved and technically minded. With those clients, we work directly. Others delegate to captains or owner’s representatives. So no, we don’t have a generic programme. We adapt to the needs of each owner.

PM - Do you have KPIs or specific ESG metrics related to sustainability, particularly in connection with interiors and materials?

FN - Feadship is not publicly listed, so we’re not obliged to publish a standalone ESG report. However, we do have a very clear ESG framework. Our 2030 strategy focuses on achieving Net Zero and reducing pollution, and this is backed by real demonstrators, such as Obsidian, Breakthrough, Valor, and others. Through our commitment to the Water Revolution Foundation, we’ve also committed to incremental steps toward emission-free yachts and emission-free construction processes. We have a dedicated sustainability programme manager, and governance, supplier collaboration, and environmental and social footprint integration are central to our work. At yard level, we monitor KPIs such as energy use, renewable share, waste streams, hazardous substances, certified timber usage, alternative decking trials, packaging reduction, and recyclability initiatives. So yes, interiors are absolutely included in our ESG lens.

PM - If you had to choose one example related to interiors that you’re particularly proud of, what would it be?

FN - We always challenge the status quo. In our future concepts, like Dunes, we integrated large overhangs to create natural shading inside the yacht. That reduces the need for air conditioning and therefore energy consumption. For Project C, we asked designers to work exclusively with sustainable materials. The results were extraordinary and included decorative panels made from things like eggshells and feathers, transformed into beautiful surfaces.

We’ve also explored alternative decking solutions, such as honeycomb systems infused with flowing water to replace teak. On top of that, we now use green aluminium for structural components. Everything we use is vetted rigorously for safety, fire resistance, engineering constraints, and sustainability. There’s a deep awareness across Feadship that every material choice matters.

PM - During the SIH panel in Amsterdam, you spoke about purpose in yachting. Could you expand on that?

FN - Purpose is essential. Integrating purpose into yachting creates a much clearer sense of responsibility. Imagine every yacht equipped with data-gathering tools, continuously monitoring the seas. If the entire fleet were doing that, imagine how much knowledge we could collectively generate. The challenge is that while companies and younger generations push in the right direction, geopolitics sometimes moves backward. Progress is not always linear, and global sustainability ambitions continue to face challenges and changing priorities. So progress in our sector will come from companies choosing to do the right thing and from new generations of owners demanding better.

PM - SIH is working on establishing research, data, and white papers on sustainable interiors. Would you be open to supporting this effort?

FN - Yes, with pleasure. Interiors involve a whole ecosystem of clients, designers, subcontractors. The client and interior designer define the creative vision, materials, and aesthetics. Feadship defines the technical, safety, and sustainability boundaries. And specialist subcontractors work within our approved materials system. So we do have influence, but we are not magicians. We work within class rules, safety requirements, fire risks, and evolving sustainability criteria. That’s why the research SIH is doing is extremely important. I’m happy to contribute and share our perspective.

Rebecca Gabbi