Costa Cruises has officially launched its collaboration with the Mallorca Food Bank Foundation, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the most needy people on the Balearic island.
The Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) also adheres to this initiative, framed within Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 of the 2030 Agenda, which promotes responsible consumption and the reduction of food waste in consumption and in production and distribution chains.
Food prepared in the kitchens of Costa Cruises ships, which is not served because it has not been ordered from the restaurants, is not considered a surplus but a resource, and is given to the Mallorca Food Bank Foundation for distribution to local organizations that assist people in need and at risk of social exclusion.
The night before the ship's stopover, at the end of dinner, all the prepared dishes left in the kitchen that haven't been served to the guests are collected. They are then placed in special aluminum containers, sealed and labeled to ensure traceability, and stored in the ship's cold storage. The following day, after the ship arrives and disembarks, the boxes of food are unloaded and given to volunteers from the Food Bank, who are responsible for distributing them.
This effort is an integral part of Costa's extensive Food Assistance Program, which has distributed more than 200,000 meals since its inception. The collaboration with local partners extends to 16 destinations where its ships operate, including ports such as Savona, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Bari, Palermo, Naples, Taranto, Cagliari, Tallinn, Marseille, Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Réunion, and in Spain, Barcelona, Valencia, and Mallorca.
The distribution of food in Mallorca is planned for several entities, including Tardor Comedor Social, SOS Mamás Comedor Social, Ebenezer Maranata, and Zaqueo.
In the words of Luigi Stefanelli, Vice President of Southern Europe for Costa Cruises: “This partnership with the Mallorca Food Bank Foundation is a significant step for Costa Cruises in building a more inclusive and sustainable society. It undoubtedly strengthens our commitment not only to the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development, but also to the circular economy and the goal of achieving a positive economic and social impact in the communities where we operate.”
For the president of the APB, Javier Sanz, “this collaboration reinforces the commitment of the ports of general interest of the Balearic Islands assumed in 2015 to ensure compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, incorporating among its actions initiatives aimed directly at the most disadvantaged people and beyond those already assumed in environmental, labor, anti-corruption or defense of Human Rights matters.”.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
