Eythos and the New Era of Sustainable Art Logistics
Hypebeast speaks to Rudy Bottin, Head of Sustainability, about how Eythos challenges the reputation of the art world’s high-emission logistics.
The spectacle of a global art fair often masks the myriad of environmental implications. From the massive wooden crates to carbon-heavy air freighters moving invaluable pieces across the globe, the “high-emission” reputation of art logistics has long been the industry’s open secret. Enter Eythos.
With a footprint that stretches from Hong Kong to Seoul, art logistics for Eythos isn’t only about moving masterpieces. They aim to redesign the very framework of cultural exchange, with Rudy Bottin, Head of Sustainability, leading this charge. His work is rooted in the belief that in order for art to be truly timeless, its journey has to be sustainable. Bottin and his team have pioneered a “slow logistics” approach, “The larger and/or heavier the shipment is, the bigger the saving is with seafreight.” He continues, “Eythos utilized seafreight for almost all shipments arriving in Hong Kong. This ‘slow logistics’ approach resulted in a 98% reduction in carbon emissions per shipment, as the climate impact of seafreight is approximately 60 times lower than air freight for the same volume.”
Through Eythos’ “slow logistics” work, high-integrity storage is beginning to turn a new leaf. Hypebeast sat down with Bottin to discuss their recent appointment as the official shipping partner for ART SG, the restoration of a vintage rickshaw, and why the future of the art world depends on radical transparency.
With your appointment as the official shipping partner for ART SG in Singapore, how is Eythos challenging the “high-emission” reputation of international art fair logistics through more sustainable transport or consolidation strategies?
Art will always travel the world, but at Eythos, we believe it is our mission to minimize carbon emissions by finding the most sustainable paths for cultural exchange.
In fine art logistics, packaging often weighs more than the art itself. Therefore, we push to fit multiple works safely into a single crate to avoid “shipping emptiness” and reduce the weight ratio artwork/packaging. Single-use plastics have always been banned at Eythos, opting for 80+% recycled cardboard, recycled foams and paper-based tapes to make sure our crates are as eco-friendly as they are secure. For large, heavy pieces, seafreight is the most eco-friendly option.
However, for lighter shipments, the emissions gap narrows. When air travel is unavoidable, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offers a solution. Derived from sources like used cooking oil, SAF can reduce emissions by up to 80%. Eythos is currently in discussions with SAF Providers to implement “Book & Claim” schemes, aiming to provide the speed of air travel with a carbon footprint comparable to seafreight.
Are there any other protocols you implement to reduce the environmental impact of the intricate logistics and international transportation required?
To eliminate waste from single-use materials, Eythos team made sure none of the wooden crates were discarded. Instead, they were stored during the event and reused for return shipments or for delivering furniture to new clients who purchased pieces during the fair. This eliminated the demand for new raw materials and keeps high-quality wood out of landfills.
Courtesy Of Eythos
Courtesy Of Eythos
Courtesy Of Eythos
Courtesy Of Eythos
Courtesy Of Eythos
Your in-house fabrication team is currently restoring a rickshaw for a public display. How does this focus on traditional craftsmanship and restoration align with a broader sustainability goal of extending the lifecycle of objects rather than creating new, disposable exhibition materials?
By choosing to restore a rickshaw, a French-created object mostly used in Asia, we celebrate the strong cultural bridge while extending the lifecycle of an existing artifact rather than commissioning new, disposable builds aligning with our objective to eliminate the need for new raw materials. By utilizing the Atelier de Fabrication directly within Eythos’ facilities, we eliminate the carbon emissions and damage risks associated with transporting artworks between external specialists.
We utilize water-based, low-VOC paints sourced locally in Hong Kong within the carpentry booth in Eythos’ facility. This ensures that the restoration process highlighted Eythos’ savoir-faire while protecting both the environment and the health of our craftsmen.
Eythos emphasizes”sustainable practices as a core pillar of its integrated service; how do your facilities in Hong Kong and Seoul utilize energy-efficient climate control or green technology to lower the carbon footprint of long-term art storage?
Indeed, sustainability is a core pillar of Eythos. Our facilities in Hong Kong and Seoul are designed to reflect this commitment by offering all services under one roof to minimize transportation — reducing carbon footprint and risks — latest generation HVAC technology, 100% LED lighting combined with motion sensors and energy-efficient climate control. Both locations are situated within certified green buildings (Seoul is LEED Gold while Hong Kong is BEAM Plus Platinum, LEED Silver and WELL) ensuring that our storage environment meets the highest international standards for energy conservation. To significantly lower the carbon footprint of long-term storage, we operate in accordance with RE100 guidelines.
In Hong Kong, we purchase Renewable Energy Credits within the market boundary while our South Korean operations are registered for the K-RE100 program. We also measure and record emissions of all daily operations. These are neutralized through high-integrity carbon credits, certified Gold Standard or CORSIA eligible, ensuring Eythos remains carbon neutral.
How else does Eythos think the art world, as a whole, should or can contribute to sustainability?
Eythos believes the fine art world, the logistics sector in particular, must move toward a more standardized and transparent ecosystem. We believe all industry players should align with recognized international guidelines, such as the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) or EcoVadis, which establishes a common language for progress and allows for accurate comparisons of environmental impact between all players. Transparency is the foundation of this shift. Service providers must provide clients with comprehensive data regarding carbon emissions tied to packaging and shipping choices, empowering collectors and galleries to make informed, data-driven decisions.
Beyond logistics, art fairs can also play a big role by implementing more rigorous on-site recycling protocols. By mandating the reduction of single-use materials, particularly plastics, events can ensure that the excitement of a global event doesn’t result in unnecessary waste sent to landfills. Ultimately, if every stakeholder in the art industry improved their sustainability by the smallest %, the collective impact would represent a monumental victory for our planet.
