What is a circular economy? 

A circular economy is a regenerative model of production and consumption that aims to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems - unlike the current linear economy, which follows a take–make–waste pattern.

In our linear system, we extract raw materials, use them to make products, and then discard those products—often after a single use. This process creates massive amounts of waste and pollution, contributing to the degradation of the ecosystems that sustain life.

By contrast, a circular economy designs out waste from the beginning. It encourages the reuse, repair, and recycling of products and materials, and promotes practices that restore and enhance the environment. It's not just about managing waste—it's about redesigning the entire system so that economic activity supports, rather than harms, the planet.

Marinas and the Circular Economy

In the context of the Blue Economy, marinas play a central role in advancing the circular economy within the recreational boating sector. They serve as hubs for boat repair and maintenance—activities that can generate substantial amounts of waste. While these operations have traditionally been managed in accordance with established regulations, compliance alone is no longer sufficient. Evolving European waste policies now call for a shift toward circular practices that reduce environmental impact and align the sector with broader sustainability goals.

Crucially, this transition also depends on the development of new business models—ones that prioritize product longevity, material recovery, shared ownership, and service-based approaches over traditional linear consumption. For instance, marinas can support boat-sharing platforms such as Click & Boat, reducing the need for individual boat ownership and extending the useful life of vessels through higher utilization. Similarly, repair and refurbishment services embedded within the marina’s operations, or hosting a regular Repair Café, can help boat owners maintain and upgrade their boats rather than replace them, supporting a model based on lifecycle extension. 

Another promising approach is the implementation of take-back schemes, where marinas partner with manufacturers or recyclers to dismantle and recover materials from end-of-life boats, sails, and equipment—creating a circular loop for materials such as metals, ropes, and composite elements. The French APER “Recycler mon bateau” program is an excellent example of circular material recovery, funded through an eco-contribution, EPR, paid by boat manufacturers and importers, making them responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products. 

By embracing innovation not only in technology but also in how value is created, delivered, and captured, marinas and the broader boating industry can accelerate the shift to a truly circular system—one that is economically viable, environmentally responsible, and aligned with the principles of the Blue Economy.

The challenge of composites

The way modern boats are constructed and the materials we use complicates the recycling process at the end of a boat’s useful life. Components are often tightly bonded and laminated, making disassembly extremely difficult. More critically, the vast majority of boats are made from plastics and thermosetting polymers, such as fiberglass-reinforced polyester, which have not, until recently, been economically viable to recycle. 

Luckily, this long-standing barrier is beginning to shift, thanks to advances in composites and recycling techniques. A recently launched industry alliance, including Groupe Beneteau, Veolia and Arkema amongst others, is demonstrating a closed loop manufacturing process and Italian pioneers NL Composites have built the first 100% recyclable sport boat. 

At the heart of this transformation is eco-design: rethinking how boats are built so they can either remain in use longer or be easily disassembled and repurposed. Eco-design is a cornerstone of circular-economy thinking, and it is beginning to take hold not only in boat construction but also across marina infrastructure. A notable example is the use of ECOncrete in marina construction or recycled plastic pontoons, illustrating how circular principles can be applied in the broader marina context. 

To truly accelerate the transition to a circular system—one that is both economically robust and environmentally sound, and which aligns with Blue Economy principles—the marina and wider boating sectors must champion innovation, not just in technology, but in reimagining how value is generated, conveyed, and retained.

Ideas/recommendations

• Encourage knowledge-sharing workshops on repairing and reusing high-value items
• Access how well your marina can support access over ownership / boat sharing business models. This also has the added benefit of attracting more people into the boating community.
• Promote second-hand markets (nautical clothing, boat accessories, etc.)
• Reduce single-use products as much as possible, especially those made of plastic
• Encourage the purchase of items made from recycled materials
• Ensure you provide complete waste management facilities including composting
• Promote good water and energy saving practices
  Switch to renewable energy providers where possible

1 Ellen Macarthur Foundation

2 Extended Producer Responsibility