Ponant says it is “setting a new benchmark for responsible cruising” by eliminating the need for plastic water bottles across all ships and operations.
The cruise line’s entire fleet has been equipped with Nordic filtration systems, a self-serve water fountain that enables water to be bottled on board in recyclable glass containers, eliminating the need for plastic water bottles across all ships and operations.
Ponant CEO Asia Pacific Deb Corbett says this approach alone saves nearly one million plastic bottles each year, which is the equivalent of more than 20 tonnes of plastic.
“Ponant Explorations proves that it’s possible to choose a more sustainable way to see the world without compromising on the comfort or experience of luxury on each voyage.”
“Single-use plastic usage per guest has reduced from 0.63kg in 2022 to 0.006kg in 2024 as a result of this reduction, alongside the ban of plastic straws, cups, laundry bags and single-serve food packaging.
“Each guest is provided with a reusable water bottle to support both convenience and environmental awareness during their journey, which they can then take home as a souvenir.”
The cruise line is also a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative since 2021, led by the UNWTO, “reflecting our long-term commitment to sustainable tourism and the transition to circular plastic economies”.
Earlier this year, Ponant Deputy CEO of Global Business Belinda Hindmarsh sat down with Karryon to talk about the focus for the future, saying, “exploring sustainably has been part of Ponant’s DNA since its inception 36 years ago”.
“Sustainability is not something we bolt on – it’s about innovation, investing time and money in building teams to create the fleet of the future that’s going to help not just us, but it will help the entire industry to make a difference in this space.
“Work on the zero-emission vessel Swap2Zero, which is set to be the world’s first transoceanic ship designed for carbon neutrality, continues in Europe and recently received European Commission funding.”
For more information, visit Ponant.
