MSC to cut single-use plastics by March

MSC Cruises will become the latest company in the travel industry to eliminate single-use plastics from its entire fleet, part of a new environmental initiative launched this week.

Under its Plastics Reduction Program, MSC Cruises will now effectively phase out an extensive number of plastic items from all its ship operations and ashore by the end of March 2019, and replace them with environmentally-friendly solutions.

As a first step, line has already taken action to replace all plastic straws with 100 per cent compostable and biodegradable substitutes by the end of 2018. Drinks will no longer automatically be served with a straw, a measure which will see the overall consumption of straws reduce by 50 per cent. Guests who may require a straw will still be able to choose from a variety of environmentally-friendly options. This practice also extends to the Company’s island destinations, all shore-based offices and the shore excursions MSC Cruises offers.

Plastics to be eliminated by March

By March 2019, all single-use plastic shopping bags, spoons, glasses, stirrers, and other single-use plastic items for which substitution is available will be permanently phased out and replaced by environmentally-friendly alternatives.Packaging from single-portion items such as butter cups, jams or yogurts will be removed and processes will be optimized to provide guest-friendly and convenient solutions.

MSC Cruises will be working with a range of international and local suppliers in areas where the ships are deployed and will be providing eco-friendly alternatives made of 100 per cent biodegradable resins, consisting of renewable resources including corn- or sugar-based polylactic acid, bamboo, paper or other organic materials. 

This forthcoming achievement is a first step in a broader Plastics Reduction Program which aims at eliminating single-use disposable plastic – when viable substitution is available –, and reducing the use of plastics more generally.