1 8 9 biodegradable, but the less we put into the ocean, the better.” The cruise industry has strengthened its commitment to environmental sustainability in recent years, particularly with the global sulphur cap that was introduced in 2020. “The whole industry has been really focused on the idea of becoming good global citizens,” says Wertanzl. “This philosophy is especially relevant for our expedition clients, where we need to go above and beyond to operate in an environmentally friendly way. We need to preserve the destinations we visit and the local marine wildlife to ensure our guests can continue to have the experiences they dream of.” In an effort to achieve this, CMI Leisure Management has implemented recycling schemes onboard the ships it charters. Staff and crew are encouraged to reuse items where possible and are provided with recycling bins to separate rubbish. In addition, the company has committed to eliminating all single-use plastic items, such as individual portions of condiments and spreads, straws and disposable cups, onboard its ships. “We are doing what we can, but we cannot achieve true sustainability alone,” explains Wertanzl. “The saying ‘it takes a village’ is particularly true here – for example, we need to work with each port of call to ensure that we can effectively dispose of our recycled waste. “When we commit to something, we know we have to execute. We measure our progress against our commitments and adjust our methods accordingly to ensure we can reach our goals.” For CMI Leisure Management, the shift in perspective to improving sustainability is a welcome opportunity to re-evaluate its processes, says Wertanzl. Many cruise lines are now opting for digital alternatives to paperbased resources for information such as daily activity programmes, itineraries and menus. “But it will take time, and we need to involve other stakeholders in the supply chain,” he explains. “They need to be given the information to make educated and informed decisions about their impact. We have done a lot in the industry in this area, particularly surrounding food.” Wertanzl is referring to the brand’s commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood, using only ingredients that have been caught or farmed in ways that consider the long-term vitality of harvested species and the well-being of the oceans, as well as the livelihoods of fishery-dependent communities. CMI Leisure Management only purchases seafood species approved by the Marine Stewardship Council. “Sustainable choices often require investments,” says Wertanzl. “With the pandemic, those budgets have been affected, so we have to make sustainable decisions that also make sense economically, especially considering the fragile situation of the cruise industry following the hiatus. “Having said that, we are excited to resume normal operations. We need to learn how to balance the spread of the virus with sustainable initiatives that do not compromise the well-being of our guests. But with large-scale roll-out of the vaccine and the hope that variants will gradually become milder, we are in a good position to continue making positive changes across the cruise industry.” CFR CMI Leisure Management sustainably sources its seafood by considering the long-term vitality of species, the well-being of the oceans and the livelihoods of fishing communities “ We need to preserve the destinations we visit and the local marine wildlife to ensure our guests continue to have the experiences they dream of”
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