Circularity has officially set sail. AIDA Cruises has marked a major sustainability milestone in the marine industry by successfully introducing “AIDA Evolution”, the largest modernisation programme in its fleet and the most extensive in the company’s history.
Within this program, the circular R2R® initiative aboard the AIDAdiva was introduced, setting a new course for cruise line interiors. In partnership with Aquafil, Radici Marine, and Oceancircle, AIDA has demonstrated how circular design can deliver on sustainability without compromising on performance or aesthetics.
Why does that matter? Because circularity and sustainability are increasingly emerging concepts in the marine sector, where, on the other hand, changes can take time. This is because supply chains are often well-established, with structures and operational methods that have developed over the years, following traditions that have always been perfectly functional to the demands of the sector.
With the introduction of a circular ingredient like Aquafil’s ECONYL® nylon and a project like the R2R® that includes end-of-life recycling for onboard carpets, a significant evolution is being marked in the increasingly conscious choices of the cruise industry. Sector leaders are now starting to consider environmentally friendly materials and practices as fundamental, moving away from other materials that have been the standard for decades.
Born R2R® and the cruise industry
Radici Marine, a leading Italian carpet manufacturer for the marine sector, has created Bloom Back, a collection of carpets under the R2R® program and IMO certified. These carpets follow Aquafil’s R2R® guidelines, which ensure the carpet is recyclable at the end of its life. The carpets were rigorously evaluated by AIDA to confirm they met the performance standards required for use in private, common, and high-traffic areas and then used for installation aboard the AIDAdiva.
The AIDAdiva project also involved the collection and recovery of installation waste by Oceancircle. The reclaimed nylon fiber will be regenerated into new ECONYL® nylon—a 100% regenerated fiber made from pre- and post-consumer waste, including abandoned fishing nets, fabric scraps, and, now, used cruise ship carpets. Nylon has proven to be a powerful alternative to wool, which for decades has been considered the primary choice among cruise lines due to its durability, fire resistance, and comfort.
A circular future for cruise flooring
Considering how frequently cruise interiors are updated, and therefore the incredible amount of carpet waste produced, the opportunity for circular innovation is massive. This rapid turnover makes it even more crucial for materials used in cruise ship interiors to be designed for reuse and regeneration right from the start. True recycling is far from simple: it requires the adoption of a complex infrastructure that allows for material separation, subsequent recycling, and, naturally, the entire reverse logistics component.
“The special thing is that we don’t simply throw away this large amount of carpet waste, but have found a way to recycle it,” says Marc Spingler, Director of Hotel Maintenance, Dry Docks & Refit at AIDA Cruises. “ … Today, we can proudly say that we have taken an important step towards conserving resources and reducing waste. We see great potential for the future.”
With the R2R® model, Aquafil is helping cruise lines shift the paradigm, ensuring that what is installed today is not simply discarded tomorrow, but instead re-enters the supply chain as a valuable raw material.
