Costa outlines four focus areas, sustainability progress in 2021 reportCosta outlines four focus areas, sustainability progress in 2021 report

As detailed in the company's 2021 Sustainability Report, these entail nine material topics and 21 goals, all aligned with the goals of Carnival Corp. & plc.

Net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Concerning climate neutrality, Costa aims to introduce a new generation of ships with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is also working to further improve the energy efficiency of its existing fleet and to support innovation in port infrastructure.

Part of this includes its first LNG-powered ships (Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda), the installation of the latest emission-reduction systems on more than 90% of its ships and a focus on shore power, with about one-third of its ships having the capability, and five more in the pipeline.

Recycling and water use

Regarding the regeneration of resources, which is closely linked to the preservation of marine ecosystems, 100% separate collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum is already carried out on all ships.

And 90% of daily water needs are met by onboard desalinators, 100% on Costa's newer ships. 

Empowering people

Empowering people involves passengers and employees. For passengers, the goal is to raise awareness about making responsible choices when traveling. For employees, the aim is promoting a fair and inclusive work environment, and enhancing skills.

In 2021, flexible work schedules totaled more than 774,000 hours and training, nearly 120,000 hours, for a community of employees from 70 countries on five continents.

Generating value for places visited

Building a transformative ecosystem concerns the value generated for the places that host Costa ships. In 2021, with ships operating only in the Mediterranean for a reduced period, Costa cruises visited 31 ports on 17 different itineraries, reviving an ecosystem that includes nearly 16,000 suppliers.

This, Costa's 16th sustainability report, is called 'The Good Power of Travel,' and prepared using the new guidelines set by the Global Reporting Initiative. It is available on Costa's website, here.