Inside YKB

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (February 15, 2021 - You Know!, the first online platform to offer the best boat tours and experiences, on the heels of the You Know! Green Echo project and its commitment to building a sustainable business model, announced today that it has achieved the ISO 14001 Certification. The Certification recognizes the environmental management standard that minimizes the impact on the territory and promotes the development of projects aimed at improving the company-nature relationship.

Aware that reducing the impact on the environment is becoming a prerogative, You Know! wanted to demonstrate its commitment to the continuous improvement of its environmental performance and, more generally, its attention to environmental sustainability policies. In 2020, with the launch of the Green Echo initiative, You Know! defined its strategy and a roadmap through 2025, to support and guide decision-making and goal-setting for effective and efficient environmental management. These include eliminating single-use plastics, reviewing procurement practices, training all operations teams in sustainable practices, using boats with hybrid technology engines, and other projects that will allow for improved environmental management system and performance.

The certification of conformity to ISO 14001, therefore, demonstrates You Know!’s concrete commitment in limiting the impacts on the surrounding environment of its business management, extending also to the supply chain and, more generally, to the entire value chain. The certification process followed the 4 steps of the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) model:

PLAN: planning phase during which processes and objectives are established. Fundamental to obtaining the certification is the preparation of an environmental policy document that specifies objectives, resources and roles.

DO: operational phase, where processes established through a set of procedures are implemented.

CHECK: control phase during which actions and procedures are implemented to verify the standards established in the PLAN phase.

ACT: annual evaluation phase, embodied in the periodic monitoring and assessment of objectives achieved.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (December 12, 2020) - You Know!, the first online platform offering the best boat tours and experiences, is preparing to launch the first two boats with hybrid technology engines, which will be available in the Gulf of Naples and Salerno at the beginning of the next 2021 season. The launch will mark the final moment of a long journey of about two years of intense work and research, in partnership with the first Italian company in the field of electric motorization for pleasure boats.

In line with You Know!’s broader project, Green Echo, which aims to represent the company's commitment to offer services and experiences that are more ethical, responsible and have a lower environmental impact on all levels, the innovative choice to integrate the hybrid system within the fleet aims to create a responsible and environmentally friendly boating experience that combines the silent navigation of a sailboat with the luxury of a motorboat, usable by all in an increasingly sustainable way.

At present, both engines have been installed on board the vessels, and final adjustments will be made before the launch, scheduled for March 2021. Future plans see the conversion of You Know!’s entire to hybrid technology engines by 2024.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (November 5, 2020) - You Know!, the first online platform offering the best boat tours and experiences, on the heels of the You Know! Green Echo project, and its commitment to building a sustainable business model, announced today that it has been awarded the Grade C Plastic Free Company Certification. The Certification recognizes You Know!'s commitment to reconsidering the use and impact of plastic materials, finding viable alternatives, and enhancing its environmental commitment.
The certification process is based on an innovative Standard that defines certification procedures and reflects the requirements of EU Directive 2019/904 on single-use plastics. The ultimate goal is the total elimination of inorganic single-use plastics from all manufacturing processes.

Most of the plastic we use on a daily basis is not totally biodegradable or compostable. It means that it does not deteriorate and remains in the environment for thousands of years. In the environment, or more accurately, in our oceans and seas. We need to keep a few facts in mind to fully understand the importance of the oceans, and why it is critical for us to protect them. It only takes a few numbers:

• 99% of the biosphere is found in the oceans.
• One out of every two breaths is generated by the oceans.
• More than seven-tenths of the Earth's surface is occupied by sea.
• The largest living structure on Earth is found in the oceans: the Great Barrier Reef.
• 2 people have walked on the moon, but only 3 have penetrated the greatest ocean depths.

Yet

• Every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste ends up in our oceans - enough to circle the Earth more than 400 times. There's more plastic in our oceans than there are stars in our galaxy.
• It is estimated that by 2050, the oceans may contain more plastic than fish.
• Since 1950, 90% of the largest fish species have disappeared.
• Plastic has been found in the bodies of 90% of the world's seabirds and more than half of the world's sea turtles.

8 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans each year. Ocean currents have formed five giant, slow-moving eddies where plastic collects, eventually creating veritable "plastic islands," the most infamous of which is the one in the Pacific, the Pacific Trash Vortex. Most plastic debris sinks or remains in the vortex, but a significant percentage of it washes up on our shores, beaches, and even our tables on a daily basis. In fact, part of the plastic is photodegraded, i.e. disintegrated by the effect of light, into tiny fragments that are ingested by marine organisms which mistake them for plankton, damaging the internal organs of fish and the health of anyone who eats them. A critical scenario created by centuries of indifference and irresponsible consumption. It will take time, creativity, hard work and collaboration to turn things around. No one can solve this problem alone. The responsibility lies with industries, followed by big brands, environmentalists, and finally consumers.

During 2020, You Know! began an intensive journey to redesign the packaging and products offered on board. Single-use plastic products have been replaced with products made from PLA (Polylactic Acid): an innovative bioplastic, obtained by processing sugars found in corn, beet, sugar cane and other non-petroleum derived organic materials. Bioplastic is biodegradable and compostable and, unlike commonly used plastics that have an average life that can vary from 100 up to 1000 years, PLA instead has a much shorter biodegradation time: once the necessary temperature and humidity conditions are reached, it has an average life varying from 1 to 4 years.

Reducing single-use plastics has been accompanied by a sustainability training and awareness program for all operations teams on more sustainable practices such as reuse, recycling and the use and impact of plastic materials.

To date, You Know! has reduced the consumption of disposable plastic by 70%, and for this reason it has obtained the certification of a Grade C Plastic Free company, a process that included 5 steps:

Assessment of the presence of single-use plastics in the company - Plastic assessment
Identification of performance indicators - KPIs
Development of a Plastic Reduction Plan Plastic Reduction
Plan Deployment


Audit
The next step involves the total elimination of single-use plastic packaging from the production chain, for products purchased from suppliers and that by 2023, 100% of plastic materials will be reusable, recyclable or compostable.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (October 3rd, 2020) - On the occasion of the 60th Boat Show in Genoa, the General Assembly of Confindustria Nautica was held, during which the constitution of the 9th Sector Assembly was sanctioned, dedicated to the companies of rental and chartering of pleasure craft, of which You Know!, together with other nautical charter companies, became part representing Campania, after its adhesion to Confindustria in July 2020.

The creation of a sector within Confindustria Nautica dedicated to chartering, represents an important step for all operators in the supply chain. Sector 9 recognizes, in fact, the importance of the nautical charter world, which for years now has been trying to organize itself to establish its own representation and have a voice within Confindustria Nautica, considering also the exponential growth that the sector has recorded in recent years and the happy prospect of further growth in the years to come. Today, with the creation of the 9th Assembly of the Sector dedicated to this, the objective has been achieved and we are beginning to work to try to better structure the activities of the sector, through active representation and a synergistic business network for the enhancement of the sector and Made in Italy.

You Know! can be proud to be part of Confindustria Nautica, strongly committed to its mission of representing the entire yachting industry, both large and small companies, and of promoting the culture of the sea and the development of nautical tourism in Italy and worldwide.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (October 1, 2020) - You Know!, the first online platform to offer the best boat tours and experiences, today launches You Know! Green Echo, the blueprint for an endless journey to a more sustainable future, a commitment to generating positive change for the people and the Planet. With You Know! Green Echo, You Know! is committed to offering services that are more ethical and responsible, working on all levels to ensure the minimum environmental impact of experiences at sea: from the development of eco-friendly solutions, to the choice of materials with low environmental impact, from digital innovation of the entire production cycle to the adhesion to projects and initiatives to protect the oceans. You Know! Green Echo was born out of the profound awareness that the world is facing an enormous challenge. Until a few generations ago, it seemed that resources were infinite, and that people just needed access to them to create businesses and foster development. Today, we know how false this is. Today, we know that a society model with unrestrained and irresponsible consumption is taking the resources of our planet to the limit and to the exhaustion of its forces, and that, instead of finding new ways to exploit new resources, people and companies should focus on finding sustainable ways to grow, in the protection of their planet and the remaining resources. It is imperative to act quickly to support our society in overcoming its challenge, safeguarding the right of future generations to have and implement the tools necessary to ensure the satisfaction of their needs, in harmony with nature.

“For me, the most revolutionary idea in sustainability is the belief that we can decide how the story will end. If we are aware that we were part and cause of the problem, so we are aware that we have the unique opportunity and responsibility to be part of the solution. If we act boldly, if we step forward decisively, there are no limits to what we can accomplish together. So we decided to take our corporate responsibility along the entire chain of service creation and delivery. We're raising our standards, taking the initiative, exploring the latest technologies, and working harder to create greater impact change. You Know! Green Echo is a commitment, an idea, definitely a challenge, but most importantly, it's our voice with its echo. With You Know! Green Echo, the entire You Know! team is committed to doing more, with a promise to always do better than the day before because it's necessary, but it's, more importantly, the very essence of change."
Enrico Manzi, CEO di You Know!

The purpose of You Know!’s strategy is to inspire, activate and guide decision-making and goal-setting processes, so that the positive changes that have been set can be achieved. This strategy provides a roadmap to follow and outlines a strong, common long-term agenda. It will stimulate action across You Know! in the coming years and will be reviewed annually to ensure alignment with its overall strategic framework.

SUSTAINABILITY TIMELINE DI YOU KNOW!

(Source https://www.youknowboat.com/en/green-echo)

To date

• 70% ELIMINATION OF DISPOSABLE PLASTIC
  We have reduced our single-use plastic consumption by 70%, by embarking on an intensive journey to redesign our packaging and products offered on board. Single-use plastic products have been replaced with products made of PLA (Polylactic Acid): an innovative bioplastic that is biodegradable and compostable.
• SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY
  We have reviewed the standards of our procurement practices and selected only those suppliers who meet certain sustainability criteria and align with our company policy.
• TRAINING PROGRAM
  We have developed a training and awareness program for all of our operations teams on more sustainable practices, such as reuse, recycling, reducing energy consumption and water use.

In 2021

• ENJOY THE SILENT HYBRID
  After about 2 years of work and research, in March 2021, You Know!’s first two boats with hybrid technology engines will be launched, a pioneering solution that offers the possibility to combine the advantages of a diesel engine to those of an electric one, ensuring the reduction of emissions and absolute silence during navigation.

In 2022-2023

• 80% CONSUMPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
  We are working to ensure that at least 80 percent of the energy consumed in our facilities and on our vessels comes from renewable sources, such as solar energy.
• 100% ELIMINATION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC
  By 2023, 100% of the plastic materials we use will be reusable, recyclable or compostable.

In 2024

• 100% HYBRID
  Through the Enjoy the Silent Hybrid initiative, we aim to convert all vessels in our fleet to hybrid technology engines by 2024.

In 2025

• 100% ELECTRIC
  All vehicles supporting the boating experiences, such as minivans and minibuses that are used daily to take guests from the hotel to the port and back, will be fully electric by 2025.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (July 23, 2020) - You Know!, the first online platform offering the best boat tours and experiences, today announces its membership in Confindustria Nautica, the non-profit association that has represented pleasure boating industries and businesses since 1967, and works to develop the boating sector, promoting sea culture and the development of nautical tourism in Italy.

Recreational boating is one of the most highly regarded sectors of excellence in the world, with a supply chain made up of entrepreneurs capable of innovating, understanding and responding to the transformations of a rapidly changing market. Confindustria Nautica’s task is to support and encourage its development, through targeted actions of assistance, representation at institutional level and promotion, mainly through the Genoa Boat Show, the largest international showcase of Made in Italy in the field of recreational boating.

An big step for You Know! Indeed, becoming a member of Confindustria Nautica means contributing to the growth and defense of the nautical sector, and to the increase of the propositional and negotiating force of the Association, in particular towards legislators and institutions, operating this at institutional level as subject of comparison with the political, social and government forces, and at international level, participating with its own representatives in Icomia and in EBI (European Boating Industry) for the promotion of global and European boating. But that's not all! You Know!’s participation marks a new beginning, representing the fundamental starting point to create an autonomous Assembly dedicated to Rental and Chartering, which will make Confindustria Nautica even stronger and more representative for the benefit of all industry companies first, and of the whole industry second.

The boating industry is a very large supply chain, in which each link is fundamental and functional to the work of the whole chain. Belonging to a network, made up of realities that share the same values and objectives, with which to establish a comparison and a proactive dialogue, is vital for the growth of each company in the sector, from the smallest to the largest. Even more so, in a historical moment like the one we are living in, in which many companies are facing difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, which is bringing much of the industry to its knees, it is of fundamental importance to be able to identify each other and seek support, because it is the union of individuals under a single flag that gives greater strength to the whole sector.

Piano di Sorrento, Italy (May 15, 2020) - After about 2 years of work and research, in partnership with the first Italian company in the field of electric motorization for recreational boating, in March 2021 the first two You Know! boats with hybrid technology engines - a pioneering solution in the field of recreational boating - will be launched.
What is it and how does it work? A hybrid boat is basically a boat that can be propelled by two different sources of energy. The classic diesel engine is flanked by an electric motor system, rechargeable lithium batteries and photovoltaic panels, which store solar energy and recharge the batteries. The Hybrid system can operate in three different modes:

• Full Electric: propulsion is entrusted exclusively to the electric motor for all low-speed navigation where silence and respect for the environment are required: entry and exit from ports, entry into marine protected areas, gliding, fishing, etc..
• Recharge:in this mode, the electric motor becomes a generator and recovers energy from the motion of the propeller shaft line.
• Full Diesel:in this mode, the electric motor does not perform any energy recovery.

The hybrid motorization system offers the possibility to combine in a single boat the characteristics of a diesel engine - speed, power and wide autonomy - and those of an electric one - zero emissions, no noise and reduced wave generation. There are many advantages deriving from this, first and foremost the environmental aspect; indeed, in Full Electric mode, the hybrid system consumes about four times less fuel than a similar boat in similar conditions, ensuring the reduction of emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and non-combusted hydrocarbons (HC). And also, a silent navigation, and no smelly exhaust gases, annoying vibrations and wakes. Lastly, the possibility of accessing Marine Protected Areas and bodies of water of particular naturalistic value, without the risk of having a negative impact on the surrounding environment. All of this to ensure that guests on board enjoy a 360° sustainable sailing experience, an experience made even better by the design of You Know! boats. The adoption of new technologies often means sacrificing aesthetics, but this is not the case: these boats are elegant, comfortable and designed with sturdy hulls. Sustainable technology does not sacrifice anything. If anything it adds the possibility to enjoy the sea without damaging our precious ecosystems.

“Creating a responsible and environmentally friendly boating experience that combines the quiet sailing of a sailboat with the luxury of a powerboat, usable by everyone in an increasingly sustainable way. This is the challenge that our times are proposing to the recreational boating industry. Although the impact of boating activities on the marine environment is negligible compared to the sources of pollution that continually devastate it, there is no doubt that if we want to leave a habitat that is not only liveable but still enjoyable for future generations, everyone must do their utmost to reduce the effect that human activities have on nature. An ethical approach of which we have certainly become aware: the launch of You Know! two hybrid boats is only the beginning of an intense journey, made of commitment, awareness and radical changes, in order to offer services that are more ethical and responsible, working on all levels to ensure the minimum environmental impact of our experiences at sea."
Enrico Manzi, CEO di You Know!