Fred Olsen Cruise Lines to ban plastic straws and eliminate single-use plastics

As part of its focus upon waste minimisation and recycling across its fleet, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is to ban the use of plastic straws on its four ocean ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch.

Fred. Olsen will also be implementing other waste-saving initiatives on board its ships, including:

• Removal of single-use coffee cups from Bookmark Cafés
• Removal of plastic cutlery
• Plastic jam, butter and milk portions to be replaced in restaurants, buffets, and Room Service orders
• Replacing plastic laundry bags with linen ones
• Reducing the consumption of cling film
• Using ropes to secure items during rough seas rather than plastic

Thomas Rennesland, Hotel Operations Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “As a cruise line, we make our living out of the sea. We need to do our utmost to conserve this precious environment and make sure that it is safeguarded for marine life and the enjoyment of generations to come.

“There are three key elements to the environmental measures that we are undertaking across our fleet: to reduce and – where possible – eliminate single-use disposable plastics; to reduce the amount of plastics used operationally; and finally, to influence our supply chain in their behaviours.

“We have been listening to guest feedback and asking our staff how we can work together to reduce, and wherever possible, remove our reliance upon single-use plastics. On board Boudicca, for instance, we have been able to reduce the use of cling film by 32%; this is being replicated across our other ships.”

Fred. Olsen is also considering measures that can be undertaken by its river cruise ship, Brabant, to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics on board.

As well as the new ban on single-use plastics, Fred. Olsen operates within a strict environmental framework, and is committed to ensuring that it meets, and where possible, exceeds, regulatory requirements on marine and air pollution. It monitors and regularly reviews its management systems, to ensure compliance with international requirements. Fred. Olsen will continue to make every effort to minimise any impact on the environment of its operation, both at sea and on land.

The news was made on World Environment Day, which took place on 5 June, and follows a similar pledge made by Hurtigruten earlier in the year to ban unnecessary plastic waste by July 2018.