MSC Cruises
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Water Consumption:4,274,833 m3
Carbon Intensity:220 gCO2/ALBKM in 2022
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate change action
- Biodiversity, oceans and land use Impacts
- Guest health, safety and wellbeing
- Community impact and engagement
- Employee health, safety and wellbeing (incl. employment conditions)
- Sustainable tourism
- Sustainable sourcing
- Ethical marketing, sales practices and affordability
- Business Ethics & Governance
- Diversity, inclusion and equality
- Human rights
- Disaster preparedness and Response
- Data/Cyber security
- Talent development, reward and retention
- Domestic and destination economic impact
- Food quality and safety
- Plastic use and disposal
- Local air quality and pollution
- Ship & product design
- Land based waste management
- Onboard waste management
- Wastewater treatment and disposal
- Direct water consumption
Environmental Achievements
- Carbon intensity down 33.5% since 2008
- Launch of MSC World Europa, world’s largest LNG-powered cruise ship
- First solid oxide fuel cell technology system onboard a large cruise vessel
- 11 ships now fitted with shore power capability
- 9% reduction in water consumption per guest day compared to 2021
- Waste segregated for recycling up 6.5% since 2021 to 25.7%
- MSC World Europa and MSC Seascape fully compliant with the most stringent wastewater treatment and discharge standards under MARPOL
- ISO 21070 Marine environmental protection received fleetwide
Social Achievements
- 12,229 new crew hired
- 3,364 promoted
- 644,730 hours of training completed – average of 26 hours per person
- New recruitment strategy expanding diversity of workforce
- 57 destinations offer ‘Protectours’ – shore excursions that minimise our environmental impact and support nature-positive activities
- The MSC Group and MSC Foundation provided humanitarian aid across the globe, including over €7 million to deliver sustained global relief and assistance to refugees from Ukraine
- New well-being committees have been created on each ship, to organise events and initiatives for crew
- Formal adoption of a new policy: ‘Accommodation of Couples Onboard’
- In the six months ending February 2023, the crew care team helped 106 crew and a follow up survey indicated that 97% were satisfied with the support they received.
Governance Achievements
- New Business Partners’ Code of Conduct
- Renewed focus on removing or replacing non-essential single-use plastics onboard by 2024
- Sustainable procurement a key focus of new Explora Journeys brand
- Significant progress in improving the sustainability credentials of onboard retail products
- Broke ground for $350 million mega cruise terminal in Miami, opening 2023
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net zero emissions 2050
Medium-term Goals:
- 40% reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2030 (baseline: 2008)
Short-term Goals:
- Increase recycling annually by 2% per guest day
- Reduce waste by 5% per guest day by 2024
- Reduce onboard freshwater consumption by 3% per guest day per year
- Increase the share of women working on board by 30% by 2025 (from 18% to 24%)
- Remove or replace non-essential single-use plastic items onboard by 2024
- Achieve widespread use of shore power in the Baltic Sea region by 2024
- Have at least one ‘Protectour’ in each destination by the end of 2024
Environmental Challenges
- Achieving net zero emissions will require more than finding further operational efficiencies
- Methane slip from LNG engines
- Availability of renewable fuels at scale
- Unmanaged tourism
- Crew shortage globally
Mitigation Strategies
- Embracing new technologies and making the switch to renewable fuels
- GREEN RAY project on reducing methane slip on LNG dual fuel engines
- Investing in three LNG-powered cruise ships
- Transitioning towards bio-LNG
- Testing solid oxide fuel cell technology
- Developing itinerary optimisation software (Project CHEK)
- Start of HELENUS project investigating fuel cell technologies on cruise vessels
- Expanding utilisation of green ground transportation
- Offering more responsible shore excursions called ‘Protectours’
- Adopting a new crew recruitment strategy to source crew from as many countries and regions as possible
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Business Partners’ Code of Conduct
- Sustainable procurement a key focus of new Explora Journeys brand
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Transition Risks
- stricter regulatory regimes to control emissions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, UN SDGs
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO 21070, ISO 9001, LEED
Awards & Recognition
- Bureau Veritas ‘12 GOLDEN PEARLS’ for MSC World Europa
- RINA ‘Sustainable Ship’ class notation for MSC Seascape
- RINA “Biosafe Ship” award for MSC Seascape
- Five Porthole Cruise and Travel 2022 Reader’s Choice Awards, including ‘Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line’