Hurtigruten Tops Friends of the Earth Report Card
Hurtigruten Ranked Number One in Friends of the Earth’s 2024 Cruise Ship Report Card
Hurtigruten ship sailing in Raftsundet, Norway. Photo: Hurtigruten/Trym Ivar Bergsmo
Hurtigruten, the renowned Norwegian coastal voyage operator, has topped Friends of the Earth’s (FoE) 2024 Cruise Ship Report Card, earning a B+ rating – the highest score awarded this year. This accolade highlights Hurtigruten’s ongoing commitment to sustainable maritime travel and its pioneering efforts to raise environmental standards across the cruise industry.
The annual report card evaluates 21 global cruise operators on key environmental practices, including pollution prevention, wastewater management, and sustainability transparency.
A Commitment to Progress
“The cruise industry has long been a significant polluter, and progress toward sustainability has been too slow. Comprehensive evaluations like this are essential for holding our industry accountable,” said Hurtigruten CEO, Hedda Felin. “We are proud to be recognised as the top-ranked operator. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to setting a higher standard for sustainable travel. We don’t claim perfection, but progress.”
Rikke Jørgensen, VP of Organisational Development and Sustainability, added, “The Norwegian coast has been our home for over 130 years, and it’s our duty to protect it. Our goal is to launch our first emission-free ship by 2030. However, we’ve already made significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint and implementing sustainable initiatives.”
Sustainability in Action
For over 15 years, Hurtigruten has led the charge in sustainable maritime efforts. Here’s how they’re making a difference:
Transparency: Hurtigruten publishes a comprehensive annual Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, showcasing its commitment to accountability and progress toward sustainability goals.
€100 Million Fleet Upgrade Programme: Over the past three years, Hurtigruten has invested nearly €100 million in its fleet to reduce emissions, including battery-hybrid upgrades, which will be operational on four ships by Spring 2025.
Collaboration with Local Communities: The company partners with 50 local farms, bakeries, and producers across Norway. Food waste from the fleet is repurposed using a compost reactor in Stamsund, Lofoten, benefiting a local farm. Since 2019, Hurtigruten has reduced food waste from 261g to 63g per passenger, per cruise night.
Banning Single-Use Plastics and Heavy Fuel Oil: Hurtigruten eliminated non-essential single-use plastics in 2018 and was one of the first operators to ban heavy fuel oil in 2009.
Driving Change
“Hurtigruten is not just a cruise line; we’re an integral part of Norwegian coastal communities,” Jørgensen said. “We connect over 100,000 local passengers each year, transport freight between 34 ports, and offer authentic experiences. Investing in emission-free technology is challenging, but it’s the right decision for our business, our guests, and the environment. The urgency of the environmental crisis demands decisive action now.”
This recognition from Friends of the Earth cements Hurtigruten’s position as an industry leader in sustainable travel, setting an inspiring example for others in the cruise industry to follow.
For more information, visit Hurtigruten’s website or read their latest ESG report.