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Around the world, the ships in the
Costa fleet operate in or near numerous
environmentally sensitive regions, where
nature’s balance is particularly delicate.
Accordingly, minimization of the impact
on the Earth’s biodiversity and on the
different ecosystems wherever Costa’s
ships sail is one of the cornerstones of the
Company’s environmental responsibility
strategy.
In addition to implementing policies
for reduced air emissions and water
consumption, and the correct disposal of
wastewater and solid wastes produced
on board, Costa Cruises has adopted
several specific precautionary measures –
requirements stricter than those laid down
in the relevant international standards –
regarding restrictions in marine-protected
areas and protection of marine mammals
and other species in danger of extinction.
Costa liaises with the local communities
in order to ensure that the presence of
ships and guests is as beneficial and non-
intrusive as possible. For this reason we
carry out an ongoing review of the impact
of our tour programs with the planning
of numbers in order to ensure minimal
disturbance; this assessment is conducted
in collaboration with local stakeholders
and, when required, with the consultancy
of independent experts.
Biodiversity
and protection of ecosystems
FOCUS ON REUSE
Costa Cruises pays special attention to
opportunities for the reuse ashore of
materials and products on board which
are replaced fromtime to time due towear
and tear or as part of regular scheduled
maintenance. The main channel used to
facilitate this re-routing of surplus items
from the business into the hands of the
needy is the
Material Assistance Project
,
run by the
Costa Crociere Foundation
.
Using the online shop at
www.costa-
crociere-foundation.com ,charities and
NGOs serving the community can choose
the resources they need. These items may
no longer be suitable for use on board
Costa’s ships but they are by no means at
the end of their life cycle. In a throwaway
society like ours, the opportunity to
redeploy quality goods to organizations in
need has multiple benefits, both ecological
andcharitable. Insomecases,dependingon
logistic factors, the Company has donation
programs whereby these reusable assets
are funneled to people via local non-profit
groupsandgovernmentagenciesoperating
in the ports of call. In this connection Costa
has embraced criterion for the reuse of
certain types of containers (e.g. metal
drums, chemical containers type-approved
for the carriage of dangerous goods, and
jute bags for glass), which can also be used
for offloading ashore and then reused on
the ship.