The marine industry has been a major user of polymer composites for over 50 years. There has been a strong historical preference for glass fibre reinforced thermoset polymers, mainly polyesters and epoxies, but manufacturers are starting to realize that the current materials and practices are not sustainable. As a result, there is increasing interest in alternative materials, which offer the prospects of lower carbon footprints, reduced environmental impacts or both. The design decisions made today are critical, as many marine structures are designed for 20 to 30 years lifetime. In order to focus on viable solutions, it is essential to base these decisions on a balanced overview of the many new materials and processes. This review provides an up-to-date evaluation of emerging material options, fibres, matrix polymers and sandwich core and associated manufacturing developments. First, materials for the pleasure boat industry are discussed. Then high performance carbon fibre composite applications are described. These are discussed with respect to end of life scenarios such as re-use and recycling, life cycle assessment is examined. Recent examples of changes in material selection philosophy and associated benefits for sustainability illustrate what is possible and what remains to be done.