Costa Cruises is project managing a Sustainable Cruise project, co-funded by the European Commission, in a first for the cruise industry.

Three waste streams on board the Costa Pacifica – packaging, biodegradable waste and paper – are being treated so that they can be reduced, recycled and reused as by-products.

The Costa Pacifica (114,500 gross tonnage and 3,780 total guests) was chosen as the first ship to trial the first ever shipboard experimental project involving the use of innovative techniques to reduce waste at the source. The scope of the project goes beyond shipboard application and also includes coordination with European port waste disposal facilities to increase opportunities for recycling and reuse.

The Sustainable Cruise project also aims to set up a new voluntary certification scheme for shipboard waste treatment and its effects in terms of CO2 reductions – possibly paving the way for the introduction of specific EU environmental legislation for shipping.

“We are very proud to be managing this highly innovative project on board the Costa Pacifica, which will be the pilot ship for new models of management of certain types of solid waste,” says Ernesto Gori, Costa Cruises’ Vice President Quality Standards Compliance & Auditing.

“The fact that we are the first cruise company in the world to carry out such a landmark experiment, which will lead to even higher standards in the treatment of shipboard waste, is further tangible evidence of our environmental excellence.”

The Sustainable Cruise project dovetails with Costa Cruises’ own waste management policy, which has been applied fleet-wide for some time now. Costa has a policy of 100% separation of solid waste on board, with separate storage and disposal of the following seven streams: glass, plastic, metal, food, paper, ceramics and aluminum.

The “Sustainable Cruise” project reflects Costa Cruises’ environmental compliance excellence. Not only does the company comply with all (domestic and international) environmental laws and regulations, but it also voluntarily pre-empts and proactively implements possible solutions designed to enhance environmental protection.