Efforts to cut emissions highlighted by Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group has revamped its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework to better reflect the company’s contributions to a more sustainable cruise industry.

It covers five distinct ways to responsibly deliver great holidays: Champion communities and the environment; provide unforgettable cruise experiences; foster human rights and be an employer of choice; advance net zero innovation; and govern responsibly.

The release of the 2021 ‘seastainability’ report covering Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea follows the recent announcement that the group has committed to another five-year partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

WWF will help the company continue to establish sustainable business practices in areas including emissions and sustainable tourism.

The latest ESG report highlights the company’s efforts towards decarbonisation, especially through a destination net zero strategy, which aims to establish science-based targets and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Royal Caribbean Group aims to develop “ambitious and measurable goals” for continued cuts in carbon emissions, sustainable business development and growth, sustainable tourism and waste management.

Developments include:

• Introducing a fuel-cell hybrid design that allows for zero emission in port.
• Future-proofing the company’s ship-building portfolio through fuel flexibility and innovation that ensure each new ship class is 20% more energy efficient than its predecessor.
• Developing waste management technologies that can convert waste to energy. Currently 100% of the fleet is equipped to be landfill-free.
• Being ready to connect to local power grids through shore power as soon as it becomes available.

Chief executive Jason Liberty said: “All of us at Royal Caribbean Group are focused on delivering the best vacations possible and doing so responsibly.

“This report reflects our commitment to continuous innovation and building a sustainable cruise industry while growing our business for good.”