– Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are aiming to source their foods more sustainably, including purchasing more food locally
– Experts believe that these sustainable goals, such as sourcing food locally, are a step in the right direction
– This article is part of a series on companies’ manufacturing and distribution strategies, titled “The Future of Supply-Chain Management”
Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings are working towards sourcing their food more sustainably by purchasing more food locally, which experts believe is a step in the right direction. The cruise giants have around-the-clock kitchen operations and numerous onboard dining options to accommodate their over 10.3 million travelers.
Norwegian reported that 37% of its food sourcing in 2022 was local, while Royal Caribbean shifted its supply chain to Europe to source 86% of the food for its European cruises locally in 2023. Both companies also have goals for more environmentally friendly seafood sourcing and have similar animal-welfare goals that include sourcing cage-free eggs and gestation-crate-free pork.
Both companies aim to buy all seafood from certified suppliers by 2025 and source cage-free eggs, gestation-crate-free pork, and chickens exclusively from certified suppliers. However, transitioning to new suppliers can be challenging, as seen by delays in meeting sustainability goals by both companies.
The sustainability puzzle piece that remains missing in their food-sourcing goals is beef, which generates significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than chicken and has been linked to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Cruise companies could address this issue by choosing more sustainable beef suppliers or transitioning to more plant-based dishes.
Norwegian has already taken steps towards sustainability by introducing more plant-based meals across its fleets and planning to debut a plant-based food restaurant on its upcoming ship. While sustainability in the food supply chain is complex and nuanced, it is admirable that companies like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are beginning to address these issues.