Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is introducing technology that converts solid waste into energy on board its ships debuting this year.
Microwave-assisted pyrolysis, an ecofriendly technology to obtain high saturated hydrogen-rich liquid fuel, and micro auto gasification systems will be launched on RCI’s Icon of the Seas and on Silversea Cruises’ Silver Nova.
Waste will be taken on board and converted into synthesis gas that the ships can directly use as energy. This, much like land-based waste-to-energy facilities, repurposes waste in an efficient and sustainable way.
RCI is also looking at improving its waste management from start to finish, with plans to reduce food waste across its fleet by 50% by 2025. Initiatives to do so include:
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Developing a proprietary platform to monitor food supply and accurately work out how much food should be produced, prepared, and ordered on a given day.
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Using artificial intelligence to adjust food production in real time.
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Introducing a dedicated onboard food waste role to monitor and train crew members.
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Tracking guest demand for specific menu items and adjusting menu preparation and ordering accordingly.
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Partnering with the World Wildlife Fund to introduce a food waste awareness campaign in crew dining areas fleetwide.
To date, the cruise line has achieved a 24% reduction in food waste by focusing on the front end of the food system, preventing and addressing the main causes of food waste, including inventory management and over-preparing.
