Silversea Cruises has become the first tour operator to obtain environmental management certification in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. The company is the first operator to divert all waste from landfills in the Galápagos.
Silversea sorts and separates all waste generated on board the Silver Origin before transporting all waste, except organic waste, out of the Galapagos Islands to the mainland for recycling or processing in accordance with regulatory procedures. The cruise line receives a traceability document verifying the responsible transport and disposal of all waste.
In collaboration with a local waste management company, Silversea offloads all the waste generated on board the Silver Origin each week in San Cristóbal. The cardboard, plastic, and crushed glass are flown ashore for recycling. The remaining waste is transported by sea to Guayaquil, on the Ecuadorian mainland. Once there, it is collected and recycled or processed in accordance with environmental legislation and best sustainability practices.
“We are very proud to become the first tour operator to obtain this environmental management certification, a testament to our long-term commitment to sustainability and conservation in the Galapagos Islands,” said Gabriela Naranjo, Vice President and General Manager of Silversea Cruises Ecuador. “We began this initiative in 2020, entering into a partnership with an airline to transport recyclable waste out of the archipelago to the mainland. We are delighted to have taken the next step in our sustainability journey, diverting all waste from the Galapagos landfill for responsible disposal with full traceability.”
These actions are part of Silversea's Environmental Management Plan, which is designed to minimize any ecological impact on the Galapagos Islands and has been approved by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment.
Furthermore, with the goal of safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Galápagos Islands for future generations, Silversea launched the Silversea Fund for the Galápagos in 2019 to support a diverse selection of education and conservation projects each year. The fund strengthens the balance between humans and nature in the archipelago. Donors to the fund enjoy savings on Silversea cruises, as the cruise line matches guest contributions in the form of a Future Cruise Credit.
Silversea's commitment to sustainability in the Galápagos extends to its culinary offerings aboard the Silver Origin. If products are grown in the archipelago, the cruise line strives to source them locally. In recent years, Silversea has quintupled its sourcing of local ingredients in the Galápagos, working closely with farmers and independent suppliers on Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal to foster long-term solutions, strengthen the local economy, and support ongoing conservation efforts. Consuming local products also reduces imports from mainland Ecuador, thereby lessening the risk of introducing invasive species to the islands.
