We protect best what we know best
For more than 30 years, PONANT has been taking passengers to the planet's most secret places where nature reigns supreme. Making this choice means we have responsibilities towards the ecosystems and communities that live there.
Manifesto for sustainable tourism
The environment
Stopping the use of heavy fuel oil, removing single-use plastics, carrying out environmental impact studies... we have implemented a series of measures designed to decrease our environmental footprint in the regions that we visit.
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People
For 30 years, we have taken passengers to discover rare destinations and to meet the populations that have lived there for centuries. So, our itineraries are planned out in consultation with the local authorities and we make our crew, naturalist guides and passengers aware of good practices to adopt in the communities in which they will be staying.
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Our everyday actions
Our commitment translates to concrete everyday actions, particularly in terms of the controlled and responsible approach we adopt towards what we use and consume onboard our ships, and also in terms of supporting research, awareness-raising and conversation projects around the world.
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Established in 2018, the PONANT Foundation's goal is to conserve the oceans and poles and to promote exchanges between populations. In order to do this, we commit to supporting innovative initiatives led by researches, NGO, start-ups or businesses working to preserve oceans, build scientific knowledge about the polar regions and interact with indigenous populations.
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The environment
The main sustainable development focus, environmental conservation, is one of our priorities. Therefore we have already undertaken specific actions relating to the design of our ships and our itineraries.
PONANT has taken significant steps to reduce its atmospheric emissions across the board in terms of fuel consumption:
● Average speed of the company's ships limited to 10 knots. This relatively low speed means we can expect to reduce our fuel consumption by 30%.
● Fitting of ships with electric connections together with the use of shore-to-ship power when docked at suitably equipped ports.
● Development of the hybridity of its ships: fitting of batteries to enable generators to be switched off at dock, at anchor and when in proximity to inhabited areas.
In 2019, PONANT became the first cruise line to abandon the use of fuel oil and switch instead to Low Sulfur Marine Gasoil (LSMGO) with a 0.05% sulphur content. This is 10 times lower than the maximum allowed by current maritime regulations. A measure awarded the French Prix des Palmes du Tourisme Durable 2020 prize in the "Travel" category. PONANT supports international campaigns such as the Rome Declaration, which seeks to extend the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) to all the world's oceans.
Our labels, certifications and distinctions
The environment at the heart of the Commandant-Charcot design
Planned for 2021, the hybrid electric polar exploration ship, which runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG), will be fitted with the most advanced environmental technology. The Commandant-Charcot is designed to optimise energy consumption, water treatment and waste management.
Benefits of LNG:
-25% reduction in carbon emissions
-85% reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions
-95% reduction in fine particle emissions
The ships of the PONANT EXPLORERS series achieve a 75% reduction in their nitrogen oxide emissions by having their catalytic convertors operating 24 hours a day in all geographical areas. A globally unique approach that has set the standard for the entire industry.
In 2020, PONANT becomes the first European cruise line to obtain the North American Green Alliance certificate. The certificate certifies the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and technologies by its members.
Our labels, certifications and distinctions
With each new itinerary, we carry out environmental impact studies.
This protocol means we can analyse the potential impact on the ecosystem we are visiting and keep it to a minimum: historical inventory, flora and fauna study, meetings with local people, selecting possible passenger activities while ensuring they are environmentally respectful.
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All the ships in our fleet carry the Bureau Veritas CLEANSHIP certification label, which attests to reduced environmental impact. Equipped with generator-powered electric propulsion motors, our ships have achieved the Comfort 1 rating, which is the best level possible in terms of low noise and vibration levels, thus ensuring the comfort of our passengers and respect for underwater wildlife.
Our labels, certifications and distinctions
Ecosystem-friendly landing protocols
Our approach is also based on a carefully considered choice of itineraries, the drafting of a specific environmental brief for each sensitive region or area, a code of conduct for passengers, and of course, a zero tolerance policy regarding the impact we leave behind when we travel through an area.
PONANT is a member of IAATO (the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) and AECO, (the International Association of Expedition Cruise Operators for Responsible, Environmentally Friendly and Safe Tourism), two organisations responsible for regulating tourism activities in Antarctica and the Arctic. Our itineraries and protocols in the polar regions are designed in accordance with the directives issued by these organisations, which stipulate the maximum number of passengers allowed to disembark and the specific conduct to be followed (i.e. maximum wildlife approach distances; briefings for passengers, crew and expedition personnel; the level of Antarctic experience of expedition personnel; and emergency and medical evacuation plans).
People
Committing to sustainable tourism involves paying the utmost consideration to the human dimension of our work as well as environmental considerations. For each cruise, we take into account the local population and authorities and ensure our crew members are trained and that we have raised awareness among passengers.
We plan out itineraries in consultation with local stakeholders: politics, authorities, national parks and nature reserves, Aboriginal councils, NGOs, scientific teams, rescue teams, etc. We therefore ensure that we avoid mistakes relating to local habits and customs and that we fully respect the places we visit.
Our Expedition cruises
We design each of our Expedition cruises in close consultation with local people. We consult specialist ethnologists so that we can work to ensure communities are key players in developing touristic practices. They are the ones that decide what they want to share about their customs and their environment. Because they are involved, local people are no longer seen to play a passive role in tourism.
One of our greatest wishes is to contribute towards the social and economic development of the regions we visit. In order to increase our commitment towards local communities, we are building useful partnerships with them. In particular, the PONANT Foundation is supporting FabLab, an organisation based in Upernavik in Greenland. Its objective is to train Inuit craftspeople to reproduce traditional items so that they can then be sold in European museums.
A school in the Bijagos (Guinea-Bissau)
The encounter with this exceptional territory, classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and its inhabitants during our scouting and expedition cruises, gave rise to an exceptional collaboration between the local association ESCAMA Foundation and the PONANT Foundation: we are providing financial support for the reconstruction of a school in the village of Anipoc, on the island of Caravela, which will be able to accommodate about a hundred pupils from kindergarten to primary school, and will also offer literacy courses for adults.
All of our passengers and crew members agree to respect a Code of Conduct which is put together following our research and is specific to each location.
During our Expedition cruises, our passengers are accompanied by our expert naturalist guides who have been trained to respect the places we visit.
Our everyday actions
Our commitment translates to concrete everyday actions, particularly in terms of the controlled and responsible approach we adopt towards what we use and consume onboard our ships, and also in terms of supporting research, awareness-raising and conversation projects around the world.
Procurement of supplies through local distribution channels
Raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution
The elimination of single-use plastics
PONANT has prohibited the use of plastics in drinking straws, laundry bags, cups and single-serving food portions. Packaging is removed at our depots. As part of measures to stop the use of plastic bottles on all our ships, we provide our cruise passengers with stainless-steel flasks that can be filled at water fountains available on board, thus reducing the number of plastic bottles used by 10 bottles per passenger per ship.
The Nordaq system on Le Commandant Charcot enables us to bottle drinking water produced on board in reusable glass bottles.
PONANT has stopped using single-use plastics at its head offices. Every member of staff has been issued with a reusable water bottle and a reusable cup. Recycling bins for plastic, paper and general waste are available on each floor. Sixty-one percent of the plastic bottles and cans thrown away at our head offices are now recycled. These measures resulted in a one tonne reduction in the amount of plastic used in the first year they were introduced. The waste produced is collected for recycling by ELISE, a local company with a socially responsible ethos.
We are continuing to look at alternative and innovative ways of both reducing the use of plastics on board our ships and in our offices and recycling and making the best use of any plastics we do use.
Cleaning of beaches around the Indian Ocean
For five weeks, volunteers from Queens' College and the Seychelles Islands Foundation took part in an operation to clean the Aldabra Atoll, which had experienced a considerable build up of plastic waste over recent years. Interview with project instigator Lindsay Turnbull.
Procurement of supplies through local distribution channels
PONANT's very carefully chosen and selected food and drink products are sourced from suppliers compliant with the requirements of ISO standards 22000 and 14001 governing food safety and the environment. PONANT pays close attention to meat origin and animal welfare.
Optimal waste-water treatment processes
The ships are each equipped with a submerged membrane bioreactor: a complete waste-water desalination and treatment system. This biodegradation process works without the use of chemical products. It provides clean water and is compliant with the highest quality standards. The quality of the water obtained means that no chlorination or any other chemical treatment is required. The purity of the water produced enables it to be used onboard, particularly for supplying the laundry rooms.
Not only does PONANT manage black-water discharges, but it also manages grey-water discharges (water from showers, sinks and kitchens) and treats ballast water to ensure no living organisms are either uptaken or discharged.
Raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution
Plastic Odyssey is an organisation engaged in the battle against the pollution of oceans by plastic waste. More exactly, Plastic Odyssey is actively involved in raising global awareness. Interview with Maïté Abos, head of the organisation.
Making good use of waste
Onboard the ships, 60% of packing is recycled, whereas the rate across the world is just 20%. The rest is completely tracked and traced. PONANT is actively working to optimise the ways in which the waste it produces is managed on land and has compactors available onboard for each type of waste. This makes it possible to optimise both the storage volumes onboard and the unloading process at ports.
PONANT is committed to a policy of leaving zero plastic waste behind in the natural environment.
Because Le Commandant Charcot sails to particularly remote and isolated regions, the ship is equipped with twice as much storage capacity as the other ships in the fleet, thus ensuring the waste can be disposed of at ports equipped with the infrastructure required to recycle it. At Svalbard in the Arctic, our dry waste (cardboard containers and packaging) is collected and used to produce energy.
The PONANT Foundation has been supporting the Garrahan Foundation in Ushuaïa since 2020 by donating the recyclable waste produced on our Arctic cruises to it on the return leg of each voyage. The association then uses this waste to generate funds for Garrahan paediatric hospital.
Conserving biodiversity
Our ships are equipped with seabed detectors. In areas known to be frequented by marine animals we reduce the speed of our ships to 10 knots. Naturalistguides are available on the bridge with the officers to detect the presence of animals. Our fleet is among the quietest in the world. We take the utmost care to cause as little underwater disturbance to wildlife as possible.
Le Commandant Charcot, a hybrid-electric extreme polar exploration ship powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), is able to switch to electric mode to ensure quiet, zero-emission navigation through protected regions.
We use an electronic dynamic positioning system for ships without anchoring. This enables us to not drop anchor in sensitive areas.
The antifouling treatment of ships’ keelsons prevents the accumulation of microorganisms on the hull and their transport to areas where they could upset the ecosystem. This treatment is carried out using approved and certified paints.
