76 Polar Pioneer Management says its expedition ship is “upcycled with a focus on sustainability. Instead of a resource-heavy newbuild, we’ve chosen to sustainably upcycle this beloved polar vessel that comes with a rich history. We’re keeping as much of her original materials as possible, repurposing and refinishing where we can in order to minimise waste and maintain her unique character. Moreover, all decisions about new materials brought into the refit are through the lens of environmental sustainability. From cleaning materials that are biodegradable, to ropes made with recycled plastics, to low-impact staff clothing and an aim to reduce single-use plastics on board to zero, no stone is being left unturned.” It all comes down to making sustainability the basis of all choices in the refurbishment journey for Ambassador Cruise Line, which says: “Within the guest areas, Ambience is being refurbished and upgraded, with sustainability central to decision making.” Circularity For passenger shipping companies, there are clear benefits to improving their performance regarding the environmental impacts of maintenance and refits, from cost savings to compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as appealing to guests who want to tread more lightly as they travel. A circular approach to waste management and extending the lifespan of materials is of particular interest to a growing number of cruise and ferry lines. Carnival Corporation says: “As the world shifts towards a circular economy model where materials flow around a ‘closed loop’ system, rather than being used once and then discarded, we too are shifting how we work with our supply chain partners to reduce waste.” The company has set an aspiration to send 100 per cent of waste to waste-to-energy facilities by 2050. Meanwhile, Carnival’s brands are making headway in various ways towards the goal of circularity. Costa Cruises says it implements “circular economy projects aimed at recovery of material used on board” and focuses on the “extension of the life cycle of objects and positive impact on communities.” Holland America Line says: “It is our shared responsibility to limit our environmental footprint. The more we learn, the more we must be willing to move in the direction of zero-impact. We are committed to reducing, reusing, recycling, as well as to properly disposing of the waste we generate.” For Disney Cruise Line, identifying all sources of the company’s Scope 3 emissions – which can range from viewing a movie to the life-cycle impacts of physical products – is key to managing impacts. The company describes this as “a tremendous challenge, but one that we are currently working to complete in order to identify the greatest impacts and the best opportunities to reduce them.” Norwegian Cruise Line states: “We are embracing the principles of a circular economy and working to adopt and apply these principles in our waste mitigation strategy. Our progressive waste mitigation programme lessens the environmental impact of our operations, reduces pollution, promotes diversion of material from landfills, conserves natural resources and saves energy. We reduce waste through reusing and recycling, with clear benchmarks serving as the measurement of progress.” CURRENT REPORTED ACT I V I T Y
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