PONANT Explorations has taken a decisive step in responsible cruising by eliminating single-use plastics across its Green Globe Certified fleet.
As of April 2025, the luxury cruise operator, including m/s Paul Gauguin, is fully equipped with Nordaq water filtration systems, offering guests glass-bottled water on board and eliminating plastic water bottles fleet-wide.
Major strides in reducing waste
This initiative has resulted in a dramatic 90 per cent reduction in single-use plastic across the fleet. Over 820,000 plastic bottles – amounting to 20 tonnes of plastic – have been avoided since 2019. Additional plastic items such as straws, cups, laundry bags and single-serve packaging have also been phased out, slashing single-use plastic waste from 0.63 kg to just 0.006 kg per guest per operation by 2024.
A broader sustainability commitment
Beyond water usage, PONANT Explorations’ ‘Zero Plastic’ program includes providing guests with reusable water bottles and incorporating sustainable design and operational practices across voyages. The cruise line is also a proud signatory of the UNWTO-led Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, reflecting its long-term commitment to reducing plastic waste and supporting a circular economy.
