At Hatenboer-Water, we believe sustainability starts with smart, practical choices on board. Our Plastic Free @Sea initiative is designed to help shipowners and operators reduce single-use plastics while ensuring reliable access to safe drinking water. It is a simple yet powerful step toward meeting UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
A shift from single use to sustainable systems
For decades, vessels have relied on bottled water to meet crew hydration needs. While convenient, this approach comes with hidden costs: high storage demands, logistical challenges, and significant plastic waste. Through Plastic Free @Sea, we enable vessels to move from disposable to circular solutions by generating, storing, and distributing fresh, high-quality water directly on board.
By integrating advanced reverse osmosis systems, mineral dosing, and smart monitoring, ships can provide safe, great-tasting drinking water without the environmental footprint of bottled supply chains. The result is a tangible reduction in plastic waste, transport emissions, and procurement costs.
Aligning operations with SDG 12
UN SDG 12 calls for “responsible consumption and production patterns.” For maritime operators, this means optimizing resources, reducing waste, and embracing sustainable technologies. Plastic Free @Sea supports this goal by:
- Eliminating single-use plastic bottles from daily vessel operations.
- Encouraging circular use of resources through onboard water production and reuse.
- Improving transparency with measurable sustainability metrics for ESG reporting.
Each system installed represents a step toward cleaner oceans and more sustainable supply chains, proving that operational efficiency and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
From compliance to commitment
Regulations such as the IMO’s MARPOL Annex V and port state waste directives are tightening expectations around onboard waste management. Plastic Free @Sea helps vessels not only comply to these new regulations but also lead, turning regulatory obligations into proactive environmental stewardship.
By adopting onboard water solutions, shipowners demonstrate a real commitment to protecting marine ecosystems and contributing to the global circular economy, one refill at a time.
Sustainable water, sustainable future
At Hatenboer-Water, we continue to innovate with the same mission that has guided us for over a century: delivering safe water on board, anytime, anywhere. With Plastic Free @Sea, we help the maritime industry turn sustainability from a challenge into an opportunity, supporting cleaner seas, and responsible consumption.
Download the Plastic Free @Sea brochure here.
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