MSC CRUISES SIGNS NEW MARITIME SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CHARTER

MSC Cruises has signed a new ‘Single-Use Plastic Charter’ established by the UK Chamber of Shipping which aims to scrap the use of single-use plastic items by the end of 2021.

The cruise line in 2019 eliminated 97 million items of plastic after identifying nearly 40,000 single-use plastic items in its hotel operations, shops, restaurants and kitchens.

Nearly 20 million plastic straws were replaced in the year with nine million compostable straws, plastic coverings for more than 10,000 sunbeds were removed and 12 tons of plastic packaging for dishwater detergents was replaced with eco-friendly alternatives.

Linden Coppell, Director of Sustainability, MSC Cruises, said: “We are honoured to be one of the charter’s first signatories and we applaud the UK Chamber of Shipping in launching its initiative.

“The pledge goes beyond the UK Government’s commitment to ban single plastic items which we hope will encourage more organisations to do more to combat what is of real global concern.

“According to research by the British government, 80 per cent of plastic enters the marine environment from land-based sources, especially via rivers, but clearly all of us in the shipping community must play our part.”

Linden will discuss her work at MSC Cruises during a ‘Single-Use Plastic in the Marine Environment’ webinar organised by the UK Chamber of Shipping on Tuesday 15 December between 10.00-1130am GMT.

Furher details: https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/events/15-december-2020-single-use-plastic-marine-environment/

MSC Cruises recently published its 2019 Sustainability Report that highlights its vision to become an environmental leader in the global maritime sector.

Its sustainability programme is organised around four key pillars: Planet, People, Place and Procurement.

This translates into a drive to continuously improve the fleet’s environmental performance; caring for all employees and promoting diversity and inclusion; working to ensure that the impact on the coastal communities that MSC Cruises reaches remains positive; and responsibly sourcing the products and services that the Company purchases.

To download MSC Cruises’ 2019 Sustainability Report visit http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ad7ec97d#/ad7ec97d/1

To learn more about MSC Cruises’ sustainability and environmental stewardship practices visit www.msccruises.com/en-gl/About-MSC/MSC-Sustainability.aspx