WHY IT RATES: A 4.8 percent reduction in energy consumption, 100 percent of waste on board collected and separated for disposal and recycling, and 2.3 percebt reduction in the carbon footprint. That's why it rates. - Rich Thomaselli, TravelPulse Senior Editor
Costa Cruises has presented the 10th edition of its Sustainability Report, entitled "Sea You Tomorrow - On course for the future," highlighting the main sustainability results achieved by the company in 2015.
Environmental protection, shared value creation and responsible innovation are the cornerstones on which Costa Cruises has built its sustainability initiatives, described in the Report in three sections titled "Sea," "You" and "Tomorrow." The document sets out Costa's path to sustainable growth, the main projects carried out and the key goals reached on the route to complete integration of sustainability aspects into its business model, its blueprint for the future. The Report can be downloaded in the "Sustainability" section of the Costa Cruises website.
SEA - Costa Cruises is committed first and foremost to minimizing the environmental impact of its operations; it does this by means of a series of ship energy efficiency projects aimed at reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, protection of water resources and recycling of waste. The main results in the environmental field obtained in 2015 were:
(year-on-year percent reduction)
- 3 percent decrease in fuel consumption per passenger/day
- 2.3 percent reduction in the company's carbon footprint
- emission reductions: 11 percent in SOx and 3 percent in NOx and PMs
- installation on 7 ships, equivalent to 46.6 percent of the fleet, of the ECO Exhaust Gas Cleaning system, industry-leading technology with a filtering system that can remove more than 90 percent of pollutants from the exhaust gases irrespective of the ship's operating condition
- 4.8 percent reduction in energy consumption
- 100 percent of shipboard waste collected and separated for disposal and recycling
- 69 percent of the water required was produced directly on board, which works out to a year-on-year 7 percent increase.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Costa Crociere Foundation Launches Six New Social Betterment and Marine Environmental Projects[/READMORE]
In addition to the important results listed above, Costa Cruises renewed its long-standing commitment to protection of the biodiversity and the different ecosystems wherever the ships sail; more specifically, in 2015 Costa partnered the Whalesafe Life+ project for conservation of sperm whales in the waters in the vicinity of the port of Savona and beyond, and also worked in partnership with CNR - ISMAR (Italian National Research Council - Institute of Marine Sciences) to further the cause of research in the fields of oceanography and marine science. The company also focused on reduction, reuse and recovery of materials and products on board with the involvement of guests and crew members, for example by means of the multi-year partnership with CiAl (Consorzio Imballaggi Alluminio, Italy's National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Aluminum). From 2007 through 2015 approximately 334 metric tons of aluminum was collected onboard for recycling. In addition, this alliance led to the implementation of a major project called "Message in a can," engaging the township of Savona in the separate collection of aluminum and thus constituting another example of initiatives designed to foster best practices associated with the development of the "circular economy."
YOU - Costa Cruises is aware of its importance in the value chain and works constantly to strengthen its links with the local communities in the fleet's 261 ports of call. The presence of the Italian company has a positive impact on the local economy, generating new opportunities for employment and business with the development of new commercial and entrepreneurial activities involved in the supply chain - indeed, Costa has over 10,000 suppliers located on all 5 continents. The ongoing partnerships with local stakeholders promote capacity building in the field of tourism by means of the development of hospitality facilities and, at the same time, raise awareness of the natural scenery and artistic and cultural attractions in each place visited.
Costa's human capital - its uniquely rich pool of human resources with the great cultural diversity of its workforce comprising employees from 70 different countries - is the company's key asset in terms of added value, constantly offering new opportunities for growth and skills development in an inclusive and stimulating work environment. In 2015 the average number of employees on Costa's ships rose in all geographic areas, with a year-on-year 9.5 percent increase.
TOMORROW - Looking ahead to the future, Costa Cruises continues to pre-empt the industry by introducing pioneering and sustainable solutions, guided by the commitment to invest in the gradual integration of sustainability aspects in terms of both ship technology and evolution of the offer fleetwide; this includes an increasing focus on the need to ensure a balanced diet on board.
One of the main features of Costa's plans for the future is the current construction of the first cruise ships to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel; these new builds are due for delivery in 2019 and 2021. The introduction of newer and more fuel-efficient vessels - constituting a model of excellence - is facilitated by recent improvements in the regulatory framework and in the availability of gas bunkering infrastructure.
As far as concerns food and a balanced diet, Costa's strategy centers on sustainable nutrition and transparency of the supply chain; the aim is to provide guests with an excellent food experience - excellent not only in terms of the end product but also with regard to sustainable procurement of foodstuffs and an accent on healthy eating. In this connection the company established a partnership with the Università degli Studi delle Scienze Gastronomiche (UNISG) di Pollenzo to carry out a review of its food service, the goals being to focus on the links between food, culture and traditions in Costa's ports of call, and to prioritize management of shipboard menus based on seasonal availability of local produce. Guests and crew members will be called on to play an increasingly active part in responsible consumption initiatives aimed at reducing food waste on board.
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