Circular Economy on board

TUI Cruises has included the circular economy as a core focus topic in its Sustainability Strategy 2030 and is committed to applying this model´s principles to key company processes.

Circular@Sea

What volume of resources do we humans consume – and how much of this can Planet Earth renew?

The question highlights an imbalance that the circular economy model seeks to address. On the one hand, the model advocates the efficient use of resources – and on the other hand, it recommends keeping materials and products in the economic cycle as long as possible. Feasible circular economy methods include sharing, repairing, reusing or refurbishing, recycling. These also comprise the product-as-a-service approach, where utility takes precedence over ownership – leasing is a clear example. This takes the model well beyond waste management alone.

Cornerstone of the circular economy

Design-phase optimization

As early as the development phase, planning only envisages materials that are either completely biodegradable or can remain in the cycle indefinitely through repeated reuse or recycling.

Maximizing product lifetime

Keeping products in the cycle for extensive periods is a further vital pillar of the circular economy. This can be achieved by repairing defective products or optimizing processes, for example.

Natural regeneration

For the circle to close, nature must be able to regenerate. Raw materials can be recultivated, arable soils can be recovered, and biodiversity can be preserved. The model prioritizes the use of natural organic and renewable materials in products wherever possible.

Circular Cruising - circular packaging concepts for cruises

Futouris e.V. is a not-for-profit association committed to preserving the cultural and natural heritage of vacation destinations and to developing a sustainable future in the travel industry. TUI Cruises launched the Circular Cruising project together with this association and its expert partner EPEA.

The goal – to reduce packaging waste.
The path – optimizing packaging-material flows in the cruise-ship supply chain.

A joint inspection of Mein Schiff 3 took place in Bremerhaven, Germany in December 2024 to launch the project.

About the project