For Costa Cruises, environmental sustainability is a fundamental pillar of its corporate culture. It's a genuine strategic focus for a company that understands its role extends far beyond simply transporting passengers from one port to another.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 50 – September 2019
Costa also needs to create social value in its activity: from high ethical standards and transparency in the management of the company, to the protection of the environment and safety, passing through social awareness, the Costa Cruises group is today a benchmark in the industry in its business model.
Costa Cruises and the Environment:
The efforts of cruise lines to reduce their environmental impact are well known. And if analysis is used instead of demagoguery, their achievements are undeniable. The main public document that cruise lines present is their environmental sustainability reports. Costa Cruises, with its 2018 edition, reached its thirteenth edition, a milestone that very few shipowners can boast.
Costa Cruises' environmental management is based on standards far exceeding any legal requirements currently in place or that may be in the near future.
Most of these documents focus on technical data related to energy efficiency, emissions, and so on. Costa Cruises' document is much more ambitious, addressing aspects such as food, volunteering, and altruism, thus opening new perspectives on its social and environmental responsibility. It is divided into three sections: "Sea," "You," and "Tomorrow." The document explains Costa's path toward sustainable growth, the most relevant projects undertaken, and its compliance with key environmental objectives. The document is audited by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC).
Costa Cruises' Environmental Strategy:
Costa Cruises lives from the sea and, consequently, is fully committed to protecting the environment in which it operates. Its Environmental Plan includes actions designed, among other things, to safeguard marine biodiversity, reduce water consumption, and manage waste. To this end, all Costa Cruises ships are ISO 14001 certified and have an Environmental Management System (EMS) that defines procedures, practices, and rules for addressing environmental impacts in every area on board. Measures and investments are defined according to these rigorous standards, which are audited and certified by third parties. The Environmental Plan is based on the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (MARPOL).
Costa Cruises promotes efficient water use practices on its ships.
In addition to the EMS, in 2018, for the second consecutive year, the Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) was implemented. This standard goes beyond any requirements established by current legislation and guarantees real-time monitoring of the fleet's environmental performance. It includes training courses and the presence of an Environmental Officer on every ship, trained at CSMART in Almere, Netherlands. These Environmental Officers are key figures in environmental prevention, ensuring the correct application of relevant procedures in all respective areas. In 2018, the first Carnival Corp. Environmental Conference for Environmental Officers was held, demonstrating how Costa Cruises, together with its parent company, is voluntarily striving to improve knowledge and increase commitment to environmental protection.
Ultra-efficient cruise ships:
Speed reduction, improved hull design, the use of friction-reducing silicone paints, the use of LED technologies, trim control, etc. have resulted in a reduction of both the installed power in new cruise ships and fuel consumption in existing ones.
Thus, fuel consumption per available berth and per mile traveled has been decreasing for two years across the Costa Cruises fleet. Energy consumption on board the Costa Cruises fleet has also shown a notable reduction over the last two years. This reduction in fuel and energy consumption, among other factors, has led to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from the Costa Cruises fleet.
Recovery of packaging and used materials on board
Costa also focuses its efforts on the reduction and recycling of materials and products on board, involving passengers and crew.
Waste generated on board a ship requires careful and extremely complex management. Modern cruise ships carry thousands of people, who live together in a closed system that moves across the sea. Each person generates 6.4 liters of waste per day, which amounts to 114,750 m³ for the entire fleet.
Target for reducing the fleet's carbon footprint: -25% by 2020. Result in 2019: -27.6%. Reduction of 7.02% in fuel consumption per passenger/day in 2018. Five LNG vessels in the fleet by 2023, two for Costa Cruises and three for Aida.
Costa's waste management strategy is based on adopting an increasingly circular economy approach. After identifying potential risks associated with onboard waste management, opportunities for improvement are identified, seeking interested partners and exploring potential efficiency measures. Costa Cruises strives to reduce the amount of waste by reusing materials onboard whenever possible and recycling them in ports with sustainable resources. Where possible, Costa manages onshore reuse and recycling with the participation and benefit of local associations and non-profit organizations. The waste management plan applies to the entire fleet and establishes criteria that are stricter than those prescribed by MARPOL. Onboard, 100% of waste is separated into different categories. Efforts are then made to reduce the volume of waste and eliminate any associated risks to facilitate its temporary storage. In the end, 62.97% of the aluminum, 22.48% of the plastic, and 56.68% of the glass are unloaded and recycled.
Since 2017, Costa Cruises has had an agreement with CiAl (Consorzio Imballaggi Alluminio), the Italian national consortium for aluminum recovery and recycling. This agreement resulted in the collection of approximately 334 tons of aluminum for recycling between 2007 and 2015. Furthermore, this partnership led to a broader project called "Message in a Can," in collaboration with the Savona City Council for the selective collection of aluminum. Since 2018, Costa Cruises has had a similar agreement with Tetra Pak Italy to recycle its packaging.
Furthermore, Costa Cruises is committed to eliminating single-use plastic on board, using bioplastic or wooden cutlery, plates, and cups, and removing packaging from certain products. For example, 83% of yogurt is served on board in bulk.
On board Costa Cruises ships, 100% of the garbage is separated into different categories to be recycled later.
In the cabins, Costa Cruises began using soap, shower gel, and shampoo dispensers in 2000 to avoid single-use packaging. No cosmetics containing microplastics are used in the spa and beauty salon, and 100% of the cleaning products are also microplastic-free.
Efficient water use:
Costa Cruises also seeks to minimize water waste on board its ships, both through technical measures and by raising awareness among passengers and crew. Thus, all its ships are equipped with water production systems, using both evaporation, recovering heat from engines, and reverse osmosis. 70.99% of the water used on Costa Cruises ships is produced on board, and only 29.01% comes from consumption in ports of call. In 2018, onboard water production increased by 0.69%.
Another priority is raising awareness among all users about the responsible use of water, an increasingly scarce resource these days. The results have been immediate: per capita water consumption on board decreased by 4.67% in 2018, thanks in part to the “Stop the Drop” campaign, which promotes efficient water use practices not only on board but also at home after the cruise.
Costa has initiatives underway for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda.
One of Costa Cruises' innovative projects involves black water, or bilge water. Costa decided to invest in state-of-the-art bilge water treatment systems that guarantee results exceeding current legal requirements. The initiative, called the "Dry Bilge Program," saw a pilot project implemented on the Costa Mediterranea in 2018, with the aim of reducing the amount of black water generated on board. The dry bilge system allowed for the collection of condensation from the propulsion system before it entered the bilge, so it could be reused in the cooling systems of various onboard equipment. This innovation, which will be implemented across the rest of the fleet, significantly reduces bilge water production, improves the efficiency of the bilge water treatment system, and decreases the amount of treated water discharged into the sea.
Furthermore, in compliance with the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC), the Costa Diadema was equipped upon delivery with a ballast water treatment system, which was subsequently implemented across the rest of the fleet. In this way, all Costa ships subject the ballast water pumped out on each cruise to mechanical, chemical, and biological purification processes to prevent the transfer of invasive species.
Costa Cruises is committed to reducing food waste.
In 2018, Costa Cruises launched the “4 Good Food” program, which aims to reduce food waste on board its ships by 34% by 2020, for both passengers and crew. In 2018, the Costa group achieved a 27% reduction in food waste from passengers, a 35% reduction in waste from crew, and a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions (1,227 metric tons).
Passengers and crew will play an increasingly active role in initiatives focused on reducing food waste on board.
Food waste is a global problem. For example, it is one of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to halve the global per capita rate by 2030. According to the FAO, almost a third of the food produced globally each year (1.3 billion metric tons) ends up being lost or wasted.
In line with these UN goals, Costa Cruises has reduced food waste on board its ships by 34% and aims to reach 50% by 2020. The foundation of this program is recognizing the value of food, recommending healthy eating habits to passengers, and promoting the Mediterranean diet. The culinary experience is a fundamental part of a cruise: Costa's chefs prepare around 54 million meals a year, so any improvement has a significant impact.
“4 Good Food” has meant a complete overhaul of all Costa's catering processes, reforming them based on sustainability, with the commitment of passengers and crew, and striving to reuse leftover food. This program began in 2016 on the Costa Diadema thanks to the introduction of Law 166/2016 in Italy, which regulated food donations to charitable institutions. But Costa's program had so much potential that it soon became multinational: Savona and Civitavecchia joined in 2017, and Bari, Palermo, Marseille, and Barcelona in 2018. Today, the food donation program reaches nine ports, with twelve recipient organizations. And more than 120,000 portions of food have been donated since July 2017 (70,825 in 2018). This program has been recognized by MedCruise.
Costa Cruises is a leader in sustainable mobility in the cruise industry.
Since November 2018, Costa Cruises has been donating some of the food prepared on board that isn't served to guests to the Food Bank (Banc dels Aliments) in Barcelona. Costa selects the dishes prepared in the kitchens the night before disembarkation in Barcelona, packs them into sealed and labeled aluminum containers, and stores them in refrigerated chambers. The following morning, at the port of Barcelona, the food is handed over to volunteers at the Food Bank. This organization then distributes the food to various NGOs, such as Fundació Acollida i Esperança and Hogar Nuestra Señora de Lourdes, which deliver it directly to people in need.
Taste Don't Waste:
Another premise of the “4 Good Food” program is linked to promoting passengers' proactive commitment to responsible food consumption. It is also another of the Costa Group's sustainability strategies. This is how the slogan “Taste Don't Waste” was born, designed to encourage passengers, especially at the buffet, to be informed about the value of food. “Taste Don't Waste” is based on raising awareness, never on imposing it.
Carnival Corp has found that using fuel oil in ships equipped with scrubbers produces 15% less sulfur emissions than using diesel oil.
Its key messages are responsibility, healthy eating habits, the value of food, and the circular economy. Just over a year after the campaign's launch, Costa Cruises has achieved a 27% reduction in food waste from cruise passengers, confirming the success of Taste Don't Waste. The ultimate goal is for Costa Cruises passengers to disembark after their voyage with a greater awareness of sustainability, which will help them adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives.
In 2016, Costa Cruises took its first steps toward sustainable nutrition and supply chain transparency, aiming to provide travelers with an excellent culinary experience, not only through the final product but also through the sustainable sourcing of food. That year, Costa Cruises established a partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo to review its food service and analyze the links between food, culture, and traditions in Costa's ports of call, with the goal of developing onboard menus based on seasonal and local ingredients.
Smeralda
will mark a new chapter in the history of Costa Cruises and confirms the innovative and even pioneering spirit of the Genoa-based cruise line. In 2021, Costa will add the Costa Toscana, a sister ship to the Costa Smeralda that will also use LNG as fuel, while simultaneously selling off its older vessels, all in an effort to build one of the most modern fleets in the industry.
The new ships (and also the current ones thanks to the constant reforms they undergo) represent an example of leadership and innovation in the cruise industry, and are increasingly efficient and allow for a reduction in the environmental impact on the entire supply chain of fuel, food, water, etc. and improve economic development in many parts of the world.
The Costa Smeralda's design incorporates some of the latest environmental technologies available: LNG-burning engines, a UV ballast water treatment system, and an advanced wastewater treatment plant. The ship also features a heat recovery system and LED lighting.
The Costa Smeralda will be the world's second LNG-powered cruise ship, after the AIDAnova, also owned by the Costa group and operated by its German subsidiary Aida. LNG is currently the cleanest fossil fuel, which will reduce emissions in ports and at sea. The Costa Smeralda will have three LNG tanks: two of them will be 35 meters long, 8 meters in diameter, and have a capacity of 1,550 m³ each. The third tank is smaller, 28 meters long, 5 meters in diameter, and has a capacity of 520 m³.
In this regard, the investment in ports, and especially in the Port of Barcelona, is also key, particularly the development of infrastructure that allows LNG-powered ships to dock. This was already demonstrated this summer with the bunkering operations of the AidaNova, the world's first LNG-powered vessel, operated by Aida, the German subsidiary of Costa Cruises, thanks to an agreement with Shell. Until November 2019, the AidaNova will sail seven-day Mediterranean itineraries, stopping at some of the most popular destinations for German guests, such as Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Marseille, and Barcelona.
Specifically, regarding objective 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which establishes in its section 3 the reduction of 50% of food waste, Costa Cruises has launched 4 Good Food, which will achieve this 50% goal in 2020, ten years ahead of the date proposed by the United Nations.
Use of Scrubbers in the Costa Fleet:
In addition to using LNG fuel for cruises, the Costa group and, as a whole, Carnival Corporation have positioned themselves as industry leaders by pioneering the use of the Advanced Air Quality System (AAQS), or scrubbers, to treat engine exhaust from their cruise ships. These systems are already installed on more than 70% of the ships in the Carnival Corporation fleet. The use of LNG and the implementation of AAQS play a fundamental role in improving Costa Cruises' marine operations.
Given the difficulty of installing LNG tanks on a vessel designed to use conventional liquid fuels such as fuel oil or diesel, the use of Advanced Air Quality Systems (AAQS) or scrubbers represents a very attractive option for reducing emissions. They are capable of removing 99% of sulfur from exhaust gases and between 60% and 90% of particulate matter from engine emissions, including black carbon, elemental carbon, and organic carbon. They also reduce nitrogen oxides by at least 5%. Several studies have shown that AAQS are particularly effective at removing small particles (10 to 2.5 microns and ultrafine particles), while also eliminating most of the soot from exhaust gases, including black carbon.
Since each ship has multiple engines, this means that multiple scrubbers must also be installed per ship. As of July 2019, Carnival Corporation had installed 220 scrubbers on 77 of its ships (out of a fleet of approximately 100 ships). The goal is to have around 400 scrubbers installed by 2020, covering 85% of the fleet.
Costa Smeralda
– Shipyard: Meyer Werft, Turku (Finland)
– Number of decks: 20
– Cabins: 2,641 (with 21 different classes), for 6,522 passengers
– Crew: 1,678
– Length: 337 meters
– Beam: 42 meters
– Maximum draft: 8.8 meters
– Tonnage: 183,900 GT
– Propulsion: Diesel-electric, with four MaK M46DF 16-cylinder V engines, each of 15,440 kW at 514 rpm (61,760 kW total)
