Hurtigruten Expeditions (HX) has announced the publication
of its inaugural independent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
report.
“Navigating for a Greener Future,” the 2024 ESG report, is
the first fully independent publication since HX’s
formal separation from the Hurtigruten Group reflecting a bold new chapter
for the expedition leader.
“This report marks an important milestone in HX’s journey as
an independent company,” said Gebhard Rainer, CEO of HX. “It reflects not only
the tangible progress we’ve made, but also our unwavering commitment to setting
a new standard in sustainable expedition
travel. Transparency, innovation, and responsibility are central to our
operations, and we believe this report demonstrates how those values translate
into real-world impact.”
Key Report Highlights include:
Science & Education: Pioneering Science at Sea
- 1,911 cruise nights dedicated to guest
scientists.
- Over 30,000 citizen science submissions across
3,425 sessions.
- Collaborations with the British Antarctic
Survey, Norwegian Polar Institute and Alfred Wegener Institute.
First-Ever University Course at Sea
The accredited university module in partnership with the
University of Tasmania saw over 1,870 participants in the six-hour Antarctic
science and governance course, receiving 760 receiving certificates by early
2025.
Plastic Reduction Through the Ocean Bottle Partnership
Distributing 40,000 reusable bottles to guests and crew prevented
the equivalent of 45 million plastic bottles (516 tons) from entering the ocean.
Awards & Recognition
- Top score on the Friends of the Earth
environmental scorecard.
- Highest-ranked expedition cruise company in
NABU’s environmental index.
- “Excellence” and “Leading Company” awards at the
European ESG Transparency Award.
- Princess Royal Training Award for HX’s “Guiding
in Polar Bear Environments” course.
- Expedition Cruise Initiative of the Year at the
Seatrade Cruise Awards for the Rapid Response Fund.
Rapid Response Fund: Community Impact in Real Time
- Empowering crews to donate up to 1000 Euros to
local causes without head office input allows needed money to flow quickly.
- Disbursements included funding scientific
equipment in Scotland and school supplies in Colombia school supplies, to shoes
for a wrestling club in Cambridge Bay, Canada.
Environmental Impact and Emissions Reductions
- 2024 was an unusual operating year for HX with
extensive docking across the fleet where fuel is still consumed and waste is
still produced. In context, total CO₂ emissions dropped by 27 percent.
- Newly launched itinerary planning tool calculating
the carbon footprint of proposed sailings, enabling HX to redesign
high-emission routes.
- Participation in COP29 included HX Foundation
leadership and the company’s Chief Scientist advocating for ocean-based climate
solutions.
People & Inclusion
- 50 percent reduction in Lost Time Incident
Frequency, reflecting commitment to safety.
- New Employee Resource Groups focused on
diversity and inclusion.
- Gold LEED-certified office in Prague, hiring
over 70 new team members across guest services, IT, and operations.
“We operate in some of the most fragile and awe-inspiring
places on the planet,” said Felix Hamer, Strategy Manager, Sustainability.
“Whether it’s eliminating single-use plastic, launching the first university
course at sea, or reducing emissions through smarter itinerary planning, this
shows what’s possible when sustainability is embedded in everything we do. Our
goal isn’t just to explore responsibly, but to actively protect and restore the
environments and communities we connect with.”
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