Blue Impact by GrECo: Sail Green. Prove It.

All of us living from the sea know that without a clean and cared for marine environment there is no future for nautical life. For boat owners, the sea is freedom. For charter companies and marinas, it is the foundation of their business. For guests, it is a reason to travel and an experience they will cherish forever. But while sustainability talk is everywhere, one important question remains unanswered: do we really know what kind of footprint we are really leaving behind? 

GrECo Marine and the Green Sail Association have decided to find out, and are launching Blue Impact by GrECo Marine, project aiming to help boat owners, charter brokers companies and marinas understand and measure their impact on the environment, as well as take the first concrete steps towards responsible sailing. 

Blue Impact is not just another superficial attempt at greenwashing, or empty talk: it gives users access to a carbon footprint calculating tool, educates and offers practical guidance to help them understand where they stand today and what they can do better in the future.

First measure. Then change

There are many boat owners and nautical companies that want to act more responsibly, but don’t know where to start. Without data, it’s difficult to determine what needs to change, where to invest and what to do for actual impact. This is why Blue Impact starts with step zero. Before making any big promises or declaring ambitious goals, it’s necessary to determine actual environmental footprint of a vessel, fleet or marina. 

For private boat owners, this means a better understanding of the impact of their own vessel on their beloved marine environment. For charter brokers, it is a dedicated action to convince clients who increasingly want to know what kind of tourism they are embarking on, while for marinas, it is an opportunity to show that they aren’t merely places to drop your anchor, but an active player in responsible nautical tourism.

More than just good intentions

Green Sail and GrEco Marine are both bringing equally important expertise to the project; Green Sail their experience in measuring environmental footprint, education and development of sustainable practices in nautical activities, and GrECo Marine many years of experience in managing maritime risks and understanding the needs of boat owners, charter brokers and marinas. 

‘We do not expect perfection from Blue Impact’, says Mr. Marijan Dželalija, GrEco Marina CEO. ‘Nautical industry will not respond overnight, and changes will not happen with one project or one carbon footprint calculation. It will happen when enough people decide to take that first step and decide they are earnest in their desire to understand their own impact. Through Blue Impact, boat owners, charter brokers and marinas will get the opportunity to take the first step on that very path. They can measure their footprint, identify where there is room for improvement and show that their care for the sea is not just empty words. We all live off the sea, but it gives us more than just work; it gives us freedom, experiences and memories. Taking care of the sea is not just a matter of responsibility. It is an investment in the future of nautical activities’, concluded Mr. Dželalija.