What: Uniworld’s Impact Report Reveals Progress Reducing Food Waste and More
The Travel Corporation launched its five-year sustainability strategy, How We Tread Right (impact.treadright.org/progress), back in September 2020, and now — less than two years later — Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is providing an Impact Report that shares the progress the river cruise line is making toward its parent company’s 11 sustainability goals.
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 to supporting developing destinations and utilizing local suppliers.
Thus far, Uniworld has reduced food waste by 15% in three months through a trial with Leanpath, a food waste management system. The line has also increased its use of local and organic food products by 57% and 36%, respectively.
Why It Matters: More Travel Companies Need to Be Transparent About Their Sustainability Progress
Uniworld is the first river cruise line to roll out its sustainability objectives and then publicly share its progress on those goals.
Study after study shows that travelers want to book with companies that are truly sustainable, but these days, it can be hard to know which companies are making a real impact versus simply greenwashing. Publishing a detailed progress report, as Uniworld is doing, is the kind of transparency the industry needs.
Fast Facts: How Uniworld Is Working Toward Achieving its Sustainability Goals
- Uniworld plans to roll out its food waste program in 2022 to five more ships, covering half of its fleet by the end of the year.
- The river line’s food waste goal is to reduce waste by 50% across the entire fleet by 2025.
- It began working on its goal to increase local and organic food products in its supply chain by 2025 through an audit of its food and beverage suppliers in 2021.
- Uniworld adjusted its definition of “local” as follows: any produce sourced within a 30- to 50-mile radius of the riverbank along the itinerary on which it is prepared.
- Another sustainability goal for Uniworld is to include at least one “Make Travel Matter” experience on 50% of itineraries by 2025.
- There are currently Make Travel Matter experiences on 31% of itineraries in India, Europe and the Middle East.
- These experiences are crafted to advance United Nations Global Goals, allowing guests to positively engage and give back to the communities, wildlife and land in the destinations they sail to.
What They Are Saying: Uniworld Is Making Actionable Commitments for Future Impact
“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 to supporting developing destinations and utilizing local suppliers,” said Julie Higgins, sustainability officer for Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. “Being the first river cruise line to publish an Impact Report is not only a true testament to our dedication to these goals, but ensures that we’ll transparently be monitoring to openly report on our progress with the environment and make actionable commitments for future impact.”
