Carnival Corporation & plc announced that it has reached a milestone in its efforts to grow sustainable operations from ship to shore. The world’s largest cruise company has thus far achieved a remarkable 38-percent reduction in food waste per passenger compared to its 2019 baseline.
This means Carnival Corp. is on the verge of meeting its interim goal of a 40 percent reduction per person by 2025, a landmark on its path toward a 50 percent reduction by 2030. Surpassing its previous 30 percent food waste reduction goal, outlined in its 2022 Sustainability Report, in less than one year, this performance demonstrates the company’s commitment to and momentum towards shrinking its “food print”.
Food Management Initiatives
To meet its targets in curtailing food waste, Carnival Corp. has implemented decisive measures onboard its vessels, focusing on minimizing unused food in every facet of food preparation and dining services. It has made investments in advanced waste management technologies, including biodigesters, which have played a pivotal role in the natural breakdown and low-impact disposal of unused food.
These efforts align with the company's dedication to responsible waste management, forming an integral part of its circular economy objectives to use fewer resources, produce less waste and maximize recycling practices. Simultaneously, these initiatives contribute to reducing the company's environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions, and leading the cruise sector in promoting positive climate action.
Carnival Corporation has employed a range of practical, technological, and educational initiatives to creatively minimize food loss while preserving exceptional dining experiences. Leveraging AI technology to closely monitor guests’ dining trends and flow, the company has optimized food use at every stage of its lifecycle, from procurement and recipe creation to meal preparation and presentation techniques.
Several of the company's eight global brands have initiated onboard awareness campaigns to educate both guests and crew members on ways they can contribute to the reduction of food waste. And, on a humanitarian level, Costa Cruises collaborates with food banks in visited communities to distribute hundreds of thousands of surplus ingredients and meals to those in need.
Costa Venezia (photo courtesy Costa Cruises)
Food Waste Reduction Investments
Carnival Corp. is also investing in cutting-edge solutions for the safe treatment and handling of uneaten food while minimizing environmental impacts from conventional disposal methods.
The company has installed over 600 food waste biodigesters across its fleet, utilizing naturally occurring bacteria to break down and liquify 80 percent of uneaten food, reducing waste volume significantly. This responsible method has enabled it to avoid producing more than 31,000 metric tons of equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 that would have resulted from landfill disposal.
Other such adopted technologies include dehydrators, which also help to maximize waste diversion by enhancing biodigesters’ effectiveness by enabling the breakdown of food items that are traditionally more difficult to decompose, including fruit and vegetable rinds, and animal fats. To date, the deployment of 45-plus food dehydrators across the fleet has reduced waste volume by up to 90 percent.
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