63 employees help us to evaluate individual development opportunities and training needs. Through our Ponant Academy and new ‘Ponant Women’ programme, we are also developing an inclusive vision for our crew. A good work-life balance is crucial so we provide a choice of up to three days working from home per week for shoreside staff and free medical support for onboard staff. We find that when we prioritise the well-being of our crew, it enhances the guest experience. HG: We encourage our guests to participate in the scientific research that we carry out onboard. This, alongside lectures and shore expeditions in Zodiacs, expands their understanding of the destinations that they visit. Our aim is for guests to finish their cruises knowing more than when they stepped onboard and to become ambassadors for the planet. Also, we’re particularly proud to champion female scientists in our newest ship Sylvia Earle where each public deck is named after groundbreaking female conservationists. AZ: For the crew, we have designed large spaces to relax and provided extra Zodiacs to carry out private expeditions, all with the aim of supporting their well-being. Meanwhile, we are working on developing a well-being food menu for guests so they can always choose a healthy option. We are also discussing the possibility of creating a well-being programme which will offer fitness and mindfulness activities for them to participate in during days at sea. What are your biggest sustainability achievements to date and what is your top environmental priority for 2023? DB: Lindblad Expeditions has raised more than $20 million towards protecting oceans and wildlife, funding research and supporting local communities. From onboard technology to sustainable food sourcing and zero-waste policies, we are proud of the current initiatives that we have put in place. Instead of a singular sustainability priority, we will enhance our multidimensional approach by continuing to explore new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and protect marine life via alternative fuels and design choices such as hull coating. WD: Ponant’s biggest achievements include the complete removal of single-use plastics and heavy fuels from our fleet. We are also proud to have installed selective catalytic reduction systems onboard nine of our 13 ships. Moving forward, we will develop a corporate energy management plan that will consider Scope 3 emissions as well as reduce our carbon footprint by three per cent compared to our 2022 figure. Obtaining the Green Globe certification is also a key priority. HG: We hosted the Antarctic Climate Expedition onboard Sylvia Earle in February 2023, which addressed the warming climate and loss of sea ice in the southern polar region. Passionate expeditioners and leading scientists helped to formulate 23 resolutions to inspire change for global net-zero emissions by 2035. We’ll work towards these 2035 goals while also implementing our regional food supply programme. We’re also aiming to be B-Corp Certified by 2024 and plan to release our inaugural Sustainability Journey Report in the coming months. AZ: For me, our wastewater treatment is one of our biggest sustainability achievements to date as it follows the strictest standards. The best way to reduce our carbon footprint is to progress our energy conservation via battery upgrades across our fleet. So far, we’ve been operating in the Arctic and Antarctica and as we expand our itinerary offerings to new destinations across the world this year, we will explore how best to support local communities. “ The best way to reduce our carbon footprint is to progress our energy conservation via battery upgrades across our fleet” Andrea Zito Swan Hellenic Lindblad Expeditions limits its carbon footprint by sourcing ingredients from local farmers with 40 tons of annual food grown by farmers in the Galapagos Islands Photo: Lindblad Expeditions
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