Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced new sustainability initiatives, in tandem with parent company The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) five-year strategy, ‘How We Tread Right’.

The cruise line’s plans, to be led by new sustainability officer Julie Higgins, include 11 sustainability goals, such as reducing 50 per cent of food waste by 2025, increasing the use of local and organic food products in its supply chain by 2025, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 or sooner.

Other targets include eliminating single-use plastic, switching to renewable energy, and offering guests sustainable tourism options in the form of what the line calls Make Travel Matter experiences.

In a statement, the line revealed that a recent report from TTC shows the current progress on meeting said targets.

For example, Uniworld has completed a trial of a new partnership with Leanpath, a food waste management system, on its ship, the S.S. Antoinette.

The trial resulted in a food waste reduction of 15 per cent over a period of three months. Uniworld said it intends to use the system on half of its fleet by the end of the year.

In addition, in terms of food, Uniworld’s on-board culinary team currently uses 57 per cent from local suppliers and 36 per cent from organic suppliers.

Sustainability goals to create ‘positive change’

Higgins said: “Our mission with Uniworld’s sustainability goals is to create a positive change through action with science-based targets, tackling everything from food waste reduction, supporting developing destinations and utilising local suppliers.

“With the recent release of the sustainability strategy, ‘How We Tread Right,’ and the progress made with new partners such as Leanpath, we are making good on our long-term commitment to truly understand and reduce our impact.

“It is now clearer than ever that travel providers and travellers must take responsibility and acknowledge the role that each of us plays in helping to make travel matter.”

• Discover how the wider cruise industry is working to reduce emissions and improve sustainability measures in this CTN Investigates feature.