NCL becomes first major cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic bottles

Norwegian Cruise Line has become the first major global cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles across its fleet, removing more than six million plastic water bottles from the industry each year.

The brand announced last year that it had partnered with JUST Goods Inc, which uses a plant-based carton made of 82 per cent renewable materials. The carton body is made from trees grown in responsibly managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic. The bottles are refillable and recyclable. 

JUST’s innovative model has enabled Norwegian to replace all single-use plastic water bottles across its 17-ship fleet. It began with its latest ship, Norwegian Encore.

The move is the latest sustainable step for Norwegian. In 2018, it eliminated single-use plastic straws across its fleet and private destinations. Its next goal is to remove all single-use plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles later this year. The initiatives fall under NCL’s Sail & Sustain environmental programme, which is its commitment to minimise waste to landfills, reduce its carbon emissions rate, increase sustainable sourcing and invest in emerging technologies. 

Harry Sommer, NCL’s president and chief executive, said: “This is a very special and very proud moment for us. As a leading cruise line, we are thrilled to make such an impact by eliminating single-use beverage bottles across our fleet. It’s just one of the ways we are working to preserve our oceans and the destinations we visit. While this is just the beginning of what we and others can do, we are incredibly committed to our Sail & Sustain programme and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving our natural resources. We will continue to strive towards making environmentally conscious decisions to benefit our earth.”