Sustainability - Procurement

PROCUREMENT

Every year, we need to procure thousands of different items to run our operations, from engine parts to hand soap, crew uniforms to food and drink. Then we must get it on to our fleet of ships, which are constantly on the move.
Our procurement teams do a phenomenal job of building relationships with suppliers all over the world to satisfy our requirements, all the while prioritising sustainable and ethical choices.

Read the MSC Sustainability Report (2019 edition)

Reducing Environmental Impact

We are working in partnership with our suppliers to raise environmental standards. All employees involved in any purchasing, sourcing and contracting activity must commit themselves to raising awareness among our suppliers on how to reduce any environmental impacts linked to their production chain, operation and final products.
This includes reducing energy consumption, cutting plastic use, preventing air, ground and water pollution, the safe handling, storage and disposal of chemicals and hazardous waste, and ensuring that workers and employees handling hazardous waste are adequately trained.

In 2019, we substituted more than 420 tonnes of cod and hake with Marine Stewardship Council certified sustainable seafood sources.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Vibrant coral reef with colorful fish in clear blue water | MSC Cruises

Eliminating Single-Use Plastics

In 2018 we identified 112 single-use plastic items that represented the majority of our plastic waste and by the end of 2019 had replaced each of them with an environmentally-friendly alternative.

We have eliminated all single-use plastic accessories from our bars and restaurants (such as plates, glasses and cutlery) as well as all single-use plastic wrapped food and beverage items (like ketchup sachets and yoghurts served in plastic pots).

Our suppliers have fully supported us, moving quickly and positively away from plastics to supplies made from other materials. We have also introduced a programme of work to reduce the amount of packaging used to bring items aboard.

This is an ongoing journey and when technology doesn’t yet allow for sustainable non-plastic substitution, MSC Cruises wants to ensure all remaining disposable plastic waste items are recycled correctly.

Close collaboration with our suppliers ensured the elimination of 97 million plastic items in 2019.

Eliminating Single-Use Plastics

Promoting Local Sourcing

Our programme, ‘Local as First Choice’, aims to localise our procurement activities and support local community livelihoods. While the benefits of local sourcing are clear where fresh food is concerned, there are also benefits for non-food items, as it reduces the distance that items must travel before they reach us, lowering carbon emissions.

In 2019 approximately 80% of food and beverage items were sourced locally, close to where the ships operate.

Promoting Local Sourcing

CHARTING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

For us Sustainability means protecting the environment, supporting the people who work with us and choose to travel with us,
as well as the communities and places that we visit and do business with.
Discover our sustainability programme organised around four key pillars: Planet, People, Place and Procurement.