Royal Caribbean Group is developing next-generation waste management technology to protect the oceans. These tools, ranging from waste-to-energy systems and food waste applications to a network of eco-centers, are the result of the cruise line's commitment to providing the best vacation experiences in a responsible manner.
This year, the first systems in the cruise industry that will convert solid waste directly into energy on board will be launched on two of the company's newest ships.
“I am proud of Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to SEA the Future and to being better tomorrow than we are today,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Pioneering the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship builds on our track record of waste management and reinforces our commitment to eliminating waste from local landfills and delivering great vacation experiences, responsibly.”
Transforming solid waste into energy at sea
The Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis (MAP) and Micro Auto Gasification (MAG) systems, which will debut on Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas and Silversea Cruises' Silver Nova respectively, will collect waste on board and convert it into syngas that the ship can use directly for energy. Similar to land-based waste-to-energy facilities, the result is efficient and sustainable waste reuse. Another byproduct of the system, biochar, can also be used as a soil amendment.
Reduce food waste
Royal Caribbean Group is also examining end-to-end waste management. For example, it plans to reduce food waste across its fleet by 50% by 2025. To achieve this, the cruise company is implementing initiatives across all its brands, including:
Developing a proprietary platform to monitor food supplies and accurately estimate how much food needs to be produced, prepared, and ordered on any given day.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to adjust food production in real time.
Introducing a dedicated onboard feature focused on food waste to monitor and train crew members.
Tracking customer demand for specific dishes and adjusting menu preparation and orders accordingly.
Launching a food waste awareness campaign in crew messes across the fleet.
To date, the Royal Caribbean Group has achieved a 24% reduction in food waste by focusing on the front end of the food system, preventing and addressing many of the main causes of food waste, including inventory management and over-preparation.
Expansion of the Green Points
Since the company's first environmental initiative, Save the Waves, designed to ensure no solid waste was thrown overboard, Royal Caribbean Group has worked diligently to increase accountability and strengthen responsible waste management practices. To this end, it developed Green Hub, a capacity-building program to identify waste providers in strategic destinations, which has helped divert 92% of its waste from landfills. Since its inception in 2014, the program has grown to encompass 33 ports worldwide.
Now, the Galapagos Islands join the Green Hub program, where Silversea became the first operator to obtain environmental management certification by diverting all waste from landfills. Initiatives like this allow the Royal Caribbean Group to continue safeguarding the delicate Galapagos ecosystem for future generations.
Defend the environment
With a sustainability track record that began more than 30 years ago, the Royal Caribbean Group has remained steadfast in its commitment to innovate and advance the solutions needed for a better future. Building on a robust portfolio of technologies that improve energy efficiency, water treatment, and waste management, the incorporation of waste-to-energy systems is an extension of the company's commitment to exceeding expectations and the SEA of the Future, to sustain the planet, power the communities in which it operates, and accelerate innovation.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
