Carnival Corporation unveils significant 2022 sustainability advances

   April 15, 2023 ,   Cruise Industry

The world's largest cruise shipowner Carnival Corporation released its 13th annual sustainability report, showcasing its industry-leading initiatives and progress towards its sustainability goals. Titled "Sustainable from Ship to Shore," the report highlights Carnival Corporation's commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) focus areas, including its aspirations of achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2050 and implementing a circular economy model for waste reduction, recycling, and management.

As part of its sustainability roadmap, Carnival Corporation aims to be at the forefront of sustainable cruising by reducing its carbon impact, maximizing resource usage, and improving operational efficiency by 2030. The company has made significant strides in these areas in 2022, with major accomplishments in decarbonization, food waste reduction, and single-use plastic reduction.

In terms of decarbonization, Carnival Corporation remains the only major cruise operator that has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2011, despite adding capacity to its fleet. The company is on track to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 (vs. 2008) and a 20% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 vs. 2019, through its four-part decarbonization strategy. This strategy includes fleet optimization, energy efficiency, itinerary efficiency, and the adoption of new technologies and alternative fuels. Carnival Corporation expects to achieve a 15% reduction in fuel consumption per available lower berth day (ALBD) and a 15% reduction in emissions per ALBD in 2023, compared to 2019.

In addition to decarbonization efforts, Carnival Corporation has invested in energy-efficient solutions such as Service Power Packages, Shore Power, and Air Lubrication Systems (ALS). The company has also been a pioneer in adopting new technologies and alternative fuels, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion, batteries and fuel cells, and biofuels. Carnival Corporation is also actively engaged in partnerships and collaborations to drive decarbonization pathways for the maritime industry.

In line with its circular economy model, Carnival Corporation has made progress in reducing food waste and single-use plastics. The company has reduced over 30% in per-passenger food waste in 2022 compared to 2019 and has set a new goal of reducing food waste by 40% per person by 2025. Carnival Corporation has also installed over 600 food biodigesters on its ships to break down and liquefy uneaten food and has introduced food dehydrators to reduce waste volume. In terms of single-use plastics, the company has reduced its usage by over 50% since 2018, removing over 500 million single-use items and replacing them with sustainable alternatives. Carnival Corporation also collaborates with its supply chain partners on sustainable product strategies, such as bulk purchasing, to further minimize its environmental footprint.

As the global leader in the cruise industry, Carnival Corporation is committed to being a good corporate citizen and steward of the environment. The company's sustainability report demonstrates its progress and leadership in addressing environmental, social, and governance issues, and its commitment to a more sustainable future for the cruise industry.

Carnival Corporation fully owns the subsidiaries AIDA KreuzfahrtenCosta CrociereCCL-CarnivalCunard LineHAL-Holland America LineP&O (UK, Australia), Princess and Seabourn.