Royal Caribbean Group shares update on its decarbonization journey

Photo: Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group released in April its annual Seastainability Report, outlining milestones the company reached on its mission to responsibly deliver vacation experiences.

Royal Caribbean Group announced that, in 2023, the company made significant progress toward its net-zero vision including achieving more than half of the company’s carbon-intensity reduction target, completing successful biofuel trials across Europe and introducing the maritime industry’s first waste-to-energy system onboard a ship. 

“I am proud to share the encouraging results from our ‘SEA the Future’ efforts in our annual Seastainability Report and our first Community Impact Report, which underscore the strength of our commitment to the environment, the communities we visit and our people,” said Jason Liberty, the president and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group. “Marking the halfway point to our carbon-intensity target is a key milestone that builds on our history of innovation and collaboration as we continue driving forward solutions that advance the industry’s net-zero future.”  

Highlights from the reports include:  

• A 6.8 percent reduction in carbon intensity, reaching more than half of its double-digit carbon-intensity reduction target.

• An expanded energy portfolio following successful biofuel trials, which confirmed that drop-in percentages of the alternative fuel can be used without needing to modify engines or impact onboard technical systems.

• Increased local sourcing globally, reducing miles traveled by 37 percent—supporting not only the communities it visits, but also reducing its scope 3 emissions in certain regions.

• Helped protect marine species through Shellbank, an innovative genetic technology program that matches DNA for critically endangered sea turtles to known locations in order to determine priority conservation sites and prevent illegal harvesting.

• Introduced the first at-sea waste-to-energy systems, which debuted on Silver Nova and Icon of the Seas.

• Began construction on the first tri-fuel methanol-capable ship, Celebrity Xcel.

“With a sustainability journey that began over 30 years ago, Royal Caribbean Group introduced an industry-leading recycling program ‘Save the Waves’ and the first environmental officer onboard a cruise ship,” Royal Caribbean Group said. “Today the company continues to innovate and connect people to the world’s most beautiful places in a way that respects and protects the ocean and communities it visits. Laser focused on improving its energy efficiency, treating the water they use and diverting waste from landfill, the company is moving closer to its ‘Destination Net Zero’ ambition, its target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.”

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