Ponant achieves Green Globe certification
With pride, the French company Ponant announces that all its ships have obtained Green Globe certification, recognizing the company’s commitment to more responsible tourism.
“The Green Globe certification, a global standard in the tourism industry, is a key element of our commitment to ensuring responsibility for our actions. It is important for our guests and also to continue encouraging the entire maritime sector to undergo its environmental transition,” explains Wassim Daoud, Head of CSR and Sustainability at Ponant. He continues, “What sets this certification apart is its focus on continuous improvement. While our goal this year was to obtain it, the main challenge in the coming years will be to maintain it.”
Green Globe
The Green Globe certification has been awarded to all four sisters of the Le Boréal series, the six Ponant Explorers, Le Commandant Charcot, and the sailing yacht Le Ponant. This achievement rewards the dedication of all Ponant teams in recent years to reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to more sustainable tourism.
Since 2019, the entire fleet has been using low sulfur marine diesel (LS-MGO) with a sulfur content of less than 0.05%, 13 times lower than current maritime standards, significantly limiting its atmospheric impact. Ponant was the world’s first cruise company to abandon heavy fuel oil and support international authorities advocating for the extension of sulfur emission control areas (SECA) to all oceans, as stated in the Rome Declaration.
ponant-cruise-to-the-north-pole
In pursuit of the goal of reducing atmospheric emissions, Ponant has also committed to equipping its entire fleet with catalytic systems to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and shore power connection systems in ports, allowing engines to be turned off. Both technologies will be fully implemented by the end of 2026. Ponant aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% compared to 2018 for each cruise day by 2030.
The company has also made significant strides in waste reduction: since 2021, a strategy has been implemented to gradually eliminate single-use plastics through the use of Nordaq filtration units, making seawater drinkable. Once treated, the drinking water is distributed through water dispensers or in recyclable glass bottles, which are capped directly on board.
nordaq-products-ponant
In 2022, this strategy resulted in the avoidance of nearly 390,000 single-use bottles, equivalent to five tons of plastic, compared to 2019. The company has also reviewed all its onboard operations to eliminate other sources of plastic waste and continues to pursue its goal of zero single-use plastic in 2024.
Ponant pays close attention to its impact on local communities and strives to build connections with people beyond commercial exchanges: a scouting mission in the Bijagos archipelago in Guinea-Bissau led to a program to rebuild the school in the village of Anipoc on Caravela Island, funded by the Ponant Foundation. This isolated area has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1996.
arcipelago di Bijagos in Guinea Bissau
After meeting with the Escama Foundation, which has worked with locals for several years, Ponant decided to be involved in the project to make a real difference for the hundred schoolchildren and about 200 adults, who now benefit from literacy programs. In addition to construction work, the Ponant Foundation also funds teacher salaries, while the community organizes to provide on-site support.
Much emphasis is also placed on the eco-responsible management of the school, including waste selection and recycling, access to clean drinking water, and electricity generated from solar energy.
SUSTAINABLE-TOURISM
Launched in 1998, the Green Globe International Standard for Sustainable Travel and Tourism is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and is an internationally recognized certification. The certification process is conducted annually by an accredited independent auditor.
The sustainability of business operations is assessed based on 44 criteria and 380 indicators organized around four pillars: sustainable management, social and economic performance, cultural heritage, and the environment. Green Globe is an affiliated member of the World Tourism Organization.
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