Sea water purified and made drinkable, to limit the use of plastic in the Mediterranean. And help combat plastic pollution. Carrying out this initiative is Luxury Sailing, a reality founded in Olbia in 2019 within the LM Company group and specialised in catamaran cruises, which “has decided to intervene on one of the most critical aspects of life on board: the consumption of water and plastic”.
The proceedings
The process, as explained by representatives of the company, which had a turnover of EUR 1.4 million in 2024 and has grown steadily in recent years, involves the initial suction and filtration of seawater, followed by antibacterial treatment with UV sterilisation and filtration with activated charcoal to remove odours and organic residues.
“The water is then purified through reverse osmosis membranes that remove salts, metals and impurities,” the managers add. Once the purification is complete, it is mineralised again by adding elements such as calcium, magnesium and potassium and can be dispensed directly from the on-board tap, either natural or sparkling.
“Our goal was to intervene on one of the most impactful habits of life on a boat,” says Luxury Sailing founder Lorenzo Tawakol. Producing drinking water on board means reducing plastic, logistics, and bottle transport, while at the same time improving the guest experience. According to the company, foreign travellers, particularly those from Northern Europe, “are often more inclined to use water produced on board, while among Italian guests the initial diffidence towards non-bottled water is still quite widespread, a sign of how much the cultural change towards more sustainable consumption models is still evolving”.
Reduction of disposable bottles
As a result, the reduction of single-use bottles has environmental effects that go beyond simply reducing plastic waste, such as reducing the overall weight of boats and thus the energy consumption associated with transport and storage. The water production system is only one element of a broader strategy to protect the marine environment.
