Foxall Munro at METSTRADE: Driving Sustainability, Innovation, and Collaboration Across the Marine Industry 

This year at Metstrade, the Foxall Munro team delivered one of its most active and impactful shows yet, leading conversations, convening stakeholders, and showcasing practical tools that help the marine industry turn sustainability ambition into measurable action. Across the Marine Impact Lab, the Sustainable Innovation Hub, and the Marine Mammal Advisory Group, a single theme emerged: real progress happens when data, collaboration, and accessible tools come together. 

Below is a recap of the key highlights and takeaways from a transformative week at the Metstrade show in Amsterdam. 

Marine Impact Lab: Turning Insight into Action 

The inaugural Marine Impact Lab at Metstrade brought together 60 marine industry leaders for a full-day workshop dedicated to practical sustainability strategies. 

Supported by 11th Hour Racing and hosted by the teams behind The Toolbox and MarineShift360, the Lab focused on how organisations and product teams can shift from intention to implementation – using structured tools, lifecycle modelling, and emerging financial instruments. 

The message of data-driven strategies and decision making resonated throughout both tracks: 

• The Product track used MarineShift360’s lifecycle assessment tool to model real material substitutions and identify emissions-reduction opportunities. 

• Organisations explored governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement models, and sustainability strategy-building supported by The Sustainability Toolbox. 

Finance strategist Rupert Robinson introduced micro-carbon pricing as a powerful mechanism to close the funding gap: “We’re talking about fractions of a cent – tiny premiums that accumulate into climate funds that finance real decarbonisation.” 

By the end of the day, participants left with new tools and a clearer sense of agency for sustainability progress that is both immediate and collaborative. 

“Fantastic start to my time at Metstrade last week. From inspiring conversations, connection making, deep diving and networking, the MArine Impact Lab will hopefully be a staple event every year!” said Rebecca White, Senior Learning Advisor for The Ocean Race 

“Working with The Toolbox in the past in my role as Sustainability Manage for Team Holcim-PRB and Rosalin Kuiper, preparing the team for The Ocean Race Europe, I already knew how powerful this resource is. So it was great to rediscover the Toolbox last week at the Marine Impact Lab at Metstrade in Amsterdam, this time through shared learning, and conversations with businesses from right across the marine industry,”  said Jaqueline Grawe.  

Sustainable Innovation Hub: Spotlighting Solutions That Move the Industry Forward 

Located in the main hall near the DAME Awards and Metstrade Stage, the Sustainable Innovation Hub – produced in collaboration with The Toolbox and World Sailing – served as a central meeting point for free sustainability resources, online learning pathways, and case studies from across the sector. 

The Hub featured the Sustainable Innovation Showcase, highlighting five forward-thinking technologies selected by the Foxall Munro team for their potential to accelerate circularity, insetting solutions, and material innovation: 

• Holy Technology presented a Formula 1–grade mirror 3D-printed from 100% recycled carbon fibre, demonstrating how high-performance carbon fibre circularity solutions can translate directly into marine applications. 

• Foundation Zero exhibited a 3D model of their Power Hub, a containerised renewable-energy base engineered for the SailBCN Women & Youth America’s Cup team. The Foundation’s open-source philosophy encourages events worldwide to adopt similar solutions. 

• Greenboats displayed a flax-fibre foil, part of their expanding portfolio of naturally-derived biocomposite materials that offer lower-impact alternatives to conventional composites. 

• The Carbon Fibre Circular Alliance, led by World Sailing and fellow IOC sport federations, showcased a collaborative pro-level Wilson tennis racket made from recycled carbon fibre tapes produced by marine manufacturers at Lineat 

• Marlow Ropes highlighted its BlueOcean line, made entirely from recycled ocean plastic, demonstrating scalable circularity at product level. 

The Hub’s goal was clear: make sustainability approachable, practical, and visible – and celebrate innovators who are already reshaping the industry. 

If your organisation has a solution to showcase next year, we encourage you to reach out. 

Marine Mammal Advisory Group: Collaboration in Action 

The Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) hosted its annual cohort meeting at Metstrade, bringing together a global network of scientists, tech companies, governing bodies, and event organisers dedicated to reducing marine-mammal strike risk. 

In-person participants included technology partners Farsounder and SEA.AI, as well as representatives from events at World Sailing and The Ocean Race. Online, researchers and policy experts from around the world, including the International Whaling Commission, joined live to share updates, scientific findings, and new areas of collaboration. 

One of MMAG’s six strategic pillars, Matchmaking & Collaboration, was on full display. A standout moment came when SEA.AI engineers and international whale scientists began discussing the specific datasets needed to improve AI detection of low-profile diving whales such as fin whales. The MMAG continues to grow as a model for cross-sector governance: one built on shared purpose, continuous learning, and coordinated action. 

A Connected Story: Foxall Munro’s Role as Advocates, Consultants & Conveners 

Across all three platforms, Foxall Munro’s identity and impact were unmistakable. 

At the Marine Impact Lab, we helped organisations unlock their next steps using accessible tools and structured strategies with the Toolbox. 
 
At the Sustainable Innovation Hub, we amplified innovators and provided open-source pathways for organisations ready to learn and adopt best practices. Interested in learning more? Explore The Sustainability Toolbox: www.sustainabilitytoolbox.com    
 
At the MMAG cohort meeting, we demonstrated what cross-sector collaborations can achieve when aligned around a shared mission. Learn about the Marine Mammal Advisory Group:  www.mmag.world  

Follow Foxall Munro on LinkedIn for the latest news on our sustainability projects around the world.