This year, the “U Green Awards” is co-hosted and judged by World Wildlife Fund - Hong Kong, the Conservancy Association and Greeners Action. The award serves as a benchmark to those recognized corporations and brands which are making a positive contribution and commitment to the environment. Awards are separated into 16 different industry categories including Property/Architecture, Hotel, Information Technology, Banking & Finance and Tourism, etc. Costa Cruises is the only company to win the award from the tourism category.

“We are delighted to accept this award, which rewards the contribution from Costa and the commitment to the environment. To take positive action of safeguarding the environment, Costa will continue its environmental protection measures.” said Dario Rustico, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Costa Crociere S.p.A. – Pacific Asia Operations.

Costa Cruises has made a commitment to safeguarding the environment with what could be defined as the first « green » fleet in the world, as confirmed by the Green Star award obtained by Costa ships in 2005. This certifies that the technology with which the fleet was built is aimed at respecting the environment and keeping the air and sea clean. Costa's commitment is also reflected in the system of certification introduced to the company in 2004 that demonstrates respect for the best international standards in terms of Social Accountability, the Environment, Safety and Quality.

The environmental excellence of Costa Cruises is described in its annual Sustainability Report, drafted in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Guidelines and certified by RINA. In the most recent edition, the highlighted records include:

• a 9% reduction (compared to 2008) in fuel consumption (measured in relation to the size of the fleet and the total nautical miles sailed) with a consequent drop in CO2 produced, and a substantial fall (-24%) in greenhouse gas emissions derived from the use of refrigerants as well
• as a 9% decrease in the production of ozone-depleting substances.
• further success in the area of shipboard waste management with further reductions in the amount of garbage produced per day per person (about 9% less than in 2007) and in the production of special waste (-14% compared to 2008). On board the ships in the fleet, 100% of
  solid waste is collected separately for recycling and no special waste is ever discharged overboard. Waste recycling is a top priority and Costa promotes and supports agreements and projects to this end in the different ports of call.

Costa’s commitment to social accountability and environmental sustainability has also led to the establishment of important partnerships. Costa Cruises has been an official partner of WWF Italia for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea since July 2005. In 2009, the partnership was extended with the objective of setting up a network of new marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. In July 2010 Costa announced that it was participating in the pilot REPCET project (the first and only cruise line in the world to take part), a reporting system aimed at reducing collisions between ships and whales while tracking their movements. Meanwhile, since 2005 Costa Cruises has been collaborating with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission on a new way of monitoring climate change.

The Costa fleet is among the most advanced in the world in terms of environmental design, management, compliance and energy saving. The most recent additions – the Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa, together with the future flagship Costa Favolosa, which is nearing completion in the Fincantieri yard in Marghera (Venice) and is due for delivery in July 2011 – are the first ships in Italy and among the first in the world to be equipped for “cold ironing”, namely a system whereby the ship is plugged into shoreside electrical power, enabling generators to be shut down during stopovers in port. Costa Cruises not only promote green tourism onboard actively but also promote responsible tourism ashore. In 2011, Costa Cruises is offering around 300 eco tourism excursions, comprising visits to parks, oases and nature reserves, with programs that minimize the impact on the ecosystem and create economic opportunities for the local communities in developing areas.

To strengthen the commitment to environment, Costa Cruises was taking part in WWF’s “Earth Hour”, the world’s largest environmental sustainability and global climate change initiative.

On March 26 at 8.30 pm, Costa’s ships deployed on cruises worldwide, took positive action for the environment by switching off all the “bunting”, the funnels and the lights on the outside decks, in compliance with safety procedures. Apart from this, Costa Cruises was also switched off the lights at the Palazzo Costa, the Company’s Genoa headquarters inaugurated in June 2010, one of Italy’s first buildings with “zero C02 emissions on site”.

Costa Cruises’ record of environmental excellence has always been recognized and praised by the public community. Eunice Lee, Senior Marketing and PR Manager of Costa Cruises Pacific Asia Operations, was proud to receive the Award in the Ceremony.