The call for increased transparency in sustainability initiatives is resonating across the expedition cruise sector, led by a prominent industry figure.
- The latest ESG report from HX outlines significant strides in emissions reduction, despite increased travel distances.
- HX has achieved a notable 18% decrease in emissions per passenger night and a 20% reduction in waste over the past year.
- Hurtigruten Group’s continued progress highlights the importance of adopting hybrid technology and optimised energy strategies.
- Industry leaders are urged to prioritise transparency and accountability to ensure a sustainable future.
In a significant move towards enhanced sustainability, the leader of the expedition cruise line HX has called for greater transparency within the sector. This announcement coincides with the release of HX’s latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which highlights substantial progress in emissions reduction, environmental conservation, and community engagement. This report underlines HX’s commitment to a transparent and proactive approach, setting a benchmark for industry standards.
Chief Executive Daniel Skjeldam articulated the crucial role of adventure travel as an advocate for communities and environments affected by climate change. Skjeldam stated, “Adventure travel serves as a catalyst for advocating on behalf of communities, environments, and wildlife impacted by climate change.” He emphasised that the company is focused on implementing proactive measures to mitigate emissions, celebrating its achievements while encouraging industry peers to join in enhancing transparency and accountability.
The ESG report reveals that HX has made remarkable progress, cutting emissions per available passenger night by 18% compared to 2022, even as travel distances expanded by 10%. This was achieved through investments in hybrid technology and energy optimisation strategies such as optimised sailing routes, reduced speeds, and the utilisation of shore power in port areas like Reykjavik. Moreover, HX’s waste reduction initiatives have been equally commendable, with a 20% decrease in waste resulting from measures like banning single-use plastics, revising menu offerings, and providing passengers with water refill stations.
Sister company Hurtigruten has also demonstrated solid progress, with a reported 9% decrease in direct emissions per passenger and an impressive 46% reduction in NOx emissions since 2022. This success is largely attributed to the conversion of additional vessels to battery hybrid power, indicating a firm commitment to their guiding principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling. Chief Executive Hedda Felin highlighted their innovative approach, “This strategy entails reducing consumption, for instance, by offering smaller portion sizes to minimise food waste (reduce), repurposing leftovers instead of discarding them (reuse), and most recently, with our new food compressor initiative, closing the loop by converting food waste into fertiliser for growing vegetables used in our menus (recycle).”
The call for transparency and accountability in cruise sector sustainability is crucial to driving meaningful industry change.
