Costa Cruises publishes the new edition of the Sustainability Report “Sea You Tomorrow” in which the company presents its programmatic plan and sustainability strategy, describing the main projects and results achieved in 2016 in this area.
This year, all the Sustainable Development Goals established in the 2030 Agenda, defined by the UN to promote responsible development worldwide, have been fully assimilated and integrated. “The roadmap we created three years ago,” explained Stefania Lallai, Director of External Relations and Sustainability at Costa Cruises, “places sustainability at the heart of an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach. This has allowed us to achieve a number of successful projects involving the direct participation of key stakeholders. The next step towards an increasingly sustainable future will be to ensure that our guests also play an increasingly active role, a fundamental element for achieving results and experiences that go beyond a simple cruise.”.
The Costa Cruises Sustainability Report is divided into three sections, “Sea”, “You” and “Tomorrow”, which address topics related to environmental protection, the creation of shared value and responsible innovation, the cornerstones that form the basis of Costa Cruises' sustainability initiatives.
SEA – Respect for the environment is a top priority for Costa Cruises and is fully integrated into the company's business model. These projects are being implemented to exceed current national and international legislation. Some of the main results achieved in this area are listed below:
• A 3% reduction in daily fuel consumption per passenger compared to 2015. • A 5% decrease in carbon footprint compared to 2015. • A 9% reduction in SOx emissions and a 4% reduction in NOx and PM emissions compared to the previous year. • 100% of waste is collected directly on board. • A 9.5% decrease in daily waste produced per passenger compared to the previous year. • 393 tons of aluminum have been collected and sent for recycling in the last 10 years. • 62% of water needs are met on board.
YOU — A key element in Costa's sustainable development strategy is the promotion of a business and tourism model that guarantees economic development and growth opportunities in the destinations visited by its ships, while simultaneously enhancing their identity, culture, and natural heritage. In this regard, a tangible example of value creation is the launch of a new itinerary in the Indian Ocean, with new destinations in India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
A key part of the development strategy with the country is identifying new destinations and cultural attractions that can be added to the shore excursions offered. In 2016, the company introduced 150 new excursions compared to the previous year, focusing particularly on promoting Italy's hidden gems—destinations of great artistic and cultural interest but located off the beaten track of international tourism.
The commitment to skills development was further strengthened, with over 800,000 hours of employee training throughout the year.
TOMORROW — In terms of responsible innovation, Costa is once again confirming its pioneering role in the cruise industry with its two new ships, which will enter service in 2019 and 2021 respectively. These ships will run on LNG (liquefied natural gas), the “cleanest” fossil fuel currently available, resulting in a substantial reduction of harmful emissions such as CO2, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. The arrival of these new ships will stimulate significant adaptation of the infrastructure system needed to accommodate and service them, with a long-term vision and to ensure the large-scale promotion of LNG.
Costa Cruises has also placed nutrition and food supply chains at the heart of its sustainable development strategy.
The 2016 Sustainability Report is certified by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) and has been prepared in accordance with the G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines defined by GRI —Global Reporting Initiative— and includes the Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations in the allocation of Costa's areas of intervention and commitment.
