For a period of five years, the alliance sets ambitious and quantifiable goals in order to reduce the company's environmental footprint and support the ocean conservation work carried out by WWF.
The cruise corporation Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have announced a five-year global partnership agreement, which will help ensure the conservation of the oceans.
Both organizations will establish quantifiable and achievable sustainability goals that will reduce Royal Caribbean's environmental impact, raise awareness about ocean conservation among the company's more than five million passengers, and support the ocean conservation work carried out by WWF.
The goals announced yesterday focus on supply chain sustainability and emissions reductions through 2020. Royal Caribbean and WWF are also working together to develop targets aimed at strengthening the company's sustainable sourcing strategy, responsible stewardship and management of its destinations, and tour operation platforms.
“Our mantra at Royal Caribbean is 'continuous improvement,' and this agreement with WWF represents a great opportunity to take a major step forward in fulfilling our commitment to protecting the oceans,” said Richard D.
Fain, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said, “It is also gratifying to see how our commitment is shared by our employees and passengers. This new agreement unites RCL with WWF’s mission to conserve the oceans. Together, we are setting ambitious goals and will begin implementing them immediately.”
Furthermore, Royal Caribbean and WWF have agreed to develop and announce new objectives by June 30th, aimed at achieving responsible management and stewardship of their destinations. As part of this, WWF and RCL will collaborate to strengthen the sustainability assessment of RCL's destinations and the selection process for those destinations.
Royal Caribbean will also fund WWF's global ocean conservation work through a $5 million philanthropic contribution. It will also collaborate with WWF to raise awareness among its millions of passengers about ocean conservation issues.
Both organizations made this announcement during an event held in Donsol, Philippines, home to a model community-based ecotourism program. During the event, RCL also made an additional contribution of $200,000 to WWF Philippines to support conservation programs in the Donsol area.
