Page 6 - BILANCIO DI SOSTENIBILITÀ 2017 RISULTATI E PROSPETTIVE

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LETTER TO
STAKEHOLDERS
For us at Costa, innovation and sustainability are inseparable and indispensable.
The generation of value for the Company and its stakeholders is inextricably linked
to our capacity to interpret the future using a framework based on responsibility.
In the cruise industry and tourism more generally the potential, opportunities and
challenges are enormous. An integral part of our commitment to the future is the
incorporation in our business model of a vision of harmonious growth featuring
innovative solutions embracing the goals of sustainable development.
Public expectation is growing all the time with regard to business responsibility for
its social impacts. This applies particularly to large corporations, which are called
on to always operate within the interests of wider society. If we want to guarantee
a sustainable future, we need to be able to pre-empt and help shape new scenarios.
For some time now, we have been translating all this into practice with tangible
actions for the holiday industry. This year we have achieved great things that we are
especially proud of - both for the results in themselves and for obtaining them in the
complex setting that is a cruise ship.
An undoubted highlight was the start of work on the construction of the Costa
Smeralda, our new flagship powered by liquefied natural gas; this is an example
of our strong commitment to responsible innovation and a milestone for the cruise
industry as a whole.
We are well aware that the objectives we set ourselves are extremely challenging.
For example, our decision to make the shipboard food experience a material issue
in terms of responsible consumption led us to consider the problem of food waste
and launch a far-reaching program called 4GOODFOOD: this involves both the food
preparation process and the direct engagement of guests, this being crucial if we are
going to achieve our aim of halving waste by 2020. In so doing we will be meeting
a key objective ten years ahead of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and helping to
spread the message of the importance of recognizing the value of food and the way
that enterprises can be catalysts for change, leading the way on the path to a model
of development based on tangible contributions that tackle global issues.
Our achievements to date only strengthen our determination to pursue the route
we have embarked on and our resolve to make further progress in line with our
vision for the long term. In the next few years we will work towards an increasingly
circular business model. We are already moving in this direction; step-by-step,
through trial and error and experimentation with new processes, we will perfect
this system and provide added benefits throughout the value chain. We have the
privilege of welcoming people from around the world to our world and making
them more aware and proactive; indeed, an integral part of the participatory
and immersive travel experience with us is the opportunity to go into the heart
of a destination to explore local communities in unconventional ways for lasting
enrichment. We regard our customers as responsible citizens and this is the starting
point for building stronger ties based on sharing and a new model of tourism from
a whole new perspective.
We believe that this is the right course of action and that only by forming
partnerships, sharing competencies and setting joint objectives can we achieve
important goals bringing benefits for the environment and the community. In this
context the Sustainable Development Goals are an extraordinary opportunity;
they provide a framework for us to operate within together with our stakeholders as Neil Palomba
we pursue pioneering solutions promoting new economic models and setting a new President
course for future advancement. This is crucial not only for the future of business, Costa Cruises
but also for the future of the planet. For this reason everyone needs to be aware of
the part they play so they can do their best. We are ready.
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There is no better way to celebrate Costa’s 70 anniversary!