The Green Marine International 2026 criteria are now available

Green Marine and Green Marine Europe have released their 2026 environmental program, marking another step forward in the continual improvement of environmental performance across the maritime industry. This update highlights stronger alignment between the two programs and introduces key advances in circularity, marine biodiversity protection, and air emission reductions.

A proven framework for European ports

Green Marine Europe has now opened certification to ports. Designed for ports of varying sizes and profiles, the port criteria align with the priorities shaping the next generation of European ports. The program offers a structured path for improvement through verified performance indicators, practical benchmarking, and an international community of port actors committed to sharing best practices.

Two programs, one shared direction

The 2026 criteria reflect continued alignment between Green Marine and Green Marine Europe as credible frameworks for environmental excellence in the maritime industry. This year, Green Marine advances cross-sector work on waste management and underwater radiated noise, while Green Marine Europe strengthens key ship owner criteria in air emissions, ship recycling, underwater noise, and waste management.

From waste reduction to circularity

In the Green Marine program, the Waste Management indicator was expanded across all sectors to promote circularity, with new attention to microplastics, administrative waste for ship owners, and more consistent waste planning tools. In Green Marine Europe, ship owners’ waste criteria reinforce the waste hierarchy, environmentally sustainable purchasing, reduced single-use items, annual garbage inventories, and management plans towards zero single-use plastic on board.

Protecting biodiversity and reducing emissions

For Green Marine ship owners, the Underwater Noise indicator becomes Underwater Radiated Noise, aligned with International Maritime Organization (IMO) terminology and scope, expanded from marine mammals to the broader protection of marine species. For Green Marine Europe ship owners, 2026 updates reinforce fleet-wide greenhouse gas inventories and decarbonization planning, strengthen pathways for NOx reduction, and advance SOx and particulate matter measures, including lower sulphur thresholds, at-berth emission reductions, particulate sampling, and cleaner technology options.

Stronger tools for greater impact

The 2026 criteria also strengthen implementation tools, transparency, and long-term responsibility across both programs. This evolution reflects a structured, performance-based approach that goes beyond regulatory compliance and supports measurable progress over time.

The 2026 criteria are now available and reflect shared, member-driven progress towards greater sustainability in the maritime industry.