Carnival Corporation expands Costa Cruises food donation program to new ports

Written By: Pritam Dhar

Pritam Dhar

I have recently begun my journey in journalism, specialising in the ever-evolving world of travel and tourism. As part of Travel and Tour World, I focus on creating insightful stories that highlight industry trends, emerging destinations, aviation developments, and transformative changes shaping global travel. Through research-driven reporting and engaging storytelling, I aim to connect readers with meaningful insights into the future of tourism while exploring innovation, discovery, and the experiences that bring the world closer together.

See Full Bio

September 24, 2024 10:40 PM

Image generated with Ai

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, around 40% of the global food supply is either lost or wasted. In alignment with worldwide efforts to address this pressing issue, Carnival Corporation & plc, the largest cruise company in the world, remains dedicated to reducing its “food print” as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability from ship to shore. As the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (Sept. 29) approaches, Carnival Corporation and its Italian cruise line, Costa Cruises, are highlighting their achievements and progress toward reducing food waste, contributing to a more sustainable food system.

Combatting Food Loss & Waste Across the Fleet

Carnival Corporation has made considerable strides in reducing food waste across all facets of food preparation, dining services, and disposal on its ships. Earlier this year, the company exceeded its 2025 goal by reducing food waste by 42% compared to 2019, thanks to innovative technology and human ingenuity. Carnival is now on track to reach its ambitious target of a 50% reduction by 2030.

Jan Swartz, Carnival Corporation’s executive vice president of strategic operations, shared the company’s progress during the annual Champions 12.3 event at Climate Week NYC. This event brought together global leaders focused on food system innovation, emphasizing the need for urgent action to curb food loss and waste. Swartz, who became the first cruise industry Champion within this coalition of 40 leaders from government, business, and civil society, is dedicated to advancing progress toward Target 12.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which focuses on food loss and waste reduction.

Costa Cruises Expands 4GOODFOOD Food Waste Initiative

As part of its comprehensive food waste reduction strategy, Carnival’s Costa Cruises recently expanded its 4GOODFOOD program, which donates prepared but unserved meals to local food banks.

Launched in 2017 in partnership with the food charity Fondazione Banco Alimentare, the program was the first of its kind in global shipping, collecting “ready to eat” meals that were prepared but not served onboard. Costa Cruises has recently extended this initiative to Palma de Mallorca and Valencia, marking the 15th and 16th ports to participate. Since its inception, the program has donated over 300,000 meals across the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

“One of the many ways we create unforgettable happiness for our guests is through world-class food and dining experiences on our ships,” said Swartz. “We are committed to doing this responsibly, and we rely on the dedication and creativity of our 160,000 talented team members who constantly find new ways to reduce food waste from our operations, often while enhancing the guest experience.”

Swartz added: “Our goal is to have less uneaten food and, with the remaining food, find ways to ensure it doesn’t go to waste, like doing our part to help communities facing food scarcity.”

The 4GOODFOOD program also includes several other initiatives, such as revising over 500 recipes to optimize meal production, utilizing Winnow kitchen scales to track and minimize food waste, training galley staff, and launching the “Too Good to Waste” campaign to raise awareness among guests and crew.

Carnival Corporation aims to expand the meal donation program to more communities, exploring opportunities in the Caribbean and Latin America to increase its impact.