Madrid, October 11, 2018: MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise company and leading cruise brand in Europe, South America, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, today announced another new chapter in its environmental stewardship program, outlining its commitment to eliminate single-use plastics from its entire global fleet and to introduce sustainable alternatives where available.
In accordance with its Plastic Reduction Program, by the end of March 2019 MSC Cruises will have phased out a large number of plastic items from all its onshore and shore operations, replacing them with environmentally friendly alternatives. As a first step, the Company has already taken steps to replace all plastic straws with 100% compostable and biodegradable alternatives by the end of this year.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises, commented: “MSC Cruises’ goal is to offer its passengers the best vacation experiences at sea, and we are committed to doing so sustainably. For this reason, we are currently working to reduce the environmental impact of our operating ships. The imminent elimination of single-use plastic items from our entire global fleet is another step in this direction. Most importantly, within the framework of our global environmental stewardship program, this action represents a further step in our overall commitment to conserving and protecting our planet’s most precious resource: the seas and oceans.”
For his part, Fernando Pacheco, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in Spain, stated: “The cruise industry has been progressively innovating to eliminate single-use plastic items from its operations. However, MSC Cruises’ program has gone a step further by advancing at a very rapid pace. By the end of 2018, we will have eliminated all single-use plastic straws, followed by another milestone in March 2019, when virtually all single-use plastics will be eliminated or replaced.”
He added: “This program is exceptional and unique: it’s not just about single-use plastic straws or small, 'visible' restaurant items. The program also aims to eliminate all 'invisible' single-use plastic items from the entire supply chain and replace them with sustainable alternatives. We are taking this commitment very seriously. As part of this program, our headquarters in Geneva has already engaged thousands of partners and suppliers to eliminate all plastics from our supply chain, and we are calling on them to take specific action and commit to supporting us on this journey.”.
To conclude, she explained: “MSC Cruises has grown and evolved from day one with a mindset of respecting the environment and the oceans, and has continuously taken steps to reduce its environmental impact. For example, for almost 10 years now, we have stopped offering single-use personal care products in our cabins, such as bath products and shampoo in single-use plastic bottles; to replace them, we have installed refillable soap and shampoo dispensers in every cabin. Single-use plastics simply do not belong in the sea, and we no longer want them on any of our ships.”.
Over the years, MSC Cruises has taken several voluntary steps to uphold this commitment within the framework of its global environmental stewardship program. Thanks to a series of prior actions, all MSC Cruises ships have been systematically prepared for this program and are equipped with modern recycling facilities and efficient waste management systems. All crew members share the corporate commitment to separating and managing waste in accordance with the regulatory requirements of the MARPOL Convention and the strict environmental principles of CLIA to prevent marine pollution. Their activities are meticulously monitored through a comprehensive and consistent system that manages and controls all environmental aspects, both onboard and ashore. A fully empowered team of environmental officers across the fleet ensures that the Company's policies and vision are effectively implemented. Through a rigorous training program, the Company continually strives to raise the bar in this area and achieve improved waste management and recycling practices.
To meet and exceed its environmental goals, MSC Cruises is currently in the process of virtually eliminating all single-use plastics from its onshore and shore operations. By March 2019, all replaceable plastic bags, spoons, cups, stirrers, and other single-use plastic items will have been phased out and replaced with eco-friendly alternatives. Single-serving packaging for items such as butter, jam, and yogurt will be eliminated, and processes will be streamlined to offer passengers convenient and enjoyable options.
While the Company continues working to fulfill this commitment, an imminent measure for the entire fleet will be the elimination of all single-use plastic straws. By the end of 2018, MSC Cruises will only offer fully biodegradable and compostable straws, both on board its ships and on land. In addition, drinks will no longer be automatically served with a straw, a measure that will reduce overall straw consumption by 50%. Passengers who wish to use a straw will be able to choose from a variety of eco-friendly options. This practice also extends to the Company's island destinations, all land-based offices, and shore excursions offered by MSC Cruises.
MSC Cruises will work with various local and international suppliers in the ship deployment areas and will provide eco-friendly alternatives made with 100% biodegradable resins, including renewable resources such as polylactic acid (derived from corn or sugar), bamboo, paper, and other organic materials. In addition, the company is also actively working with suppliers at all levels of the supply chain to effectively eliminate single-use plastics from products and packaging wherever possible.
This objective is a first step within a broader Plastic Reduction Program aimed at eliminating single-use plastics whenever possible and reducing overall plastic use. However, this is an ongoing process, and technology may not yet allow for sustainable substitution with non-plastic items. In such cases, MSC Cruises wants to ensure that all single-use plastic items are properly recycled. To this end, and given the program's comprehensive scope, MSC Cruises will work with a world-leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company to ensure that recycling activities are verified and certified by an expert organization.
Mr. Vago concluded: “At MSC Cruises, we are exploring the possibility of working with one of the world’s leading certification companies to ensure the effective recycling of plastic items that have no viable substitute. This will guarantee that, regardless of where our ships are deployed, surplus items from all our naval operations will have no impact on the sea or the land, especially considering the communities we come into contact with through our global operations.”
