Cruise ships produce an enormous amount of food daily, with Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Sea alone generating over 40,000 desserts. Despite efforts to reduce waste, the industry still struggles with disposing of uneaten buffet food. To address this issue, cruise lines use creative strategies such as measuring dishes and weighing uneaten food to adjust portion sizes.
Unwanted food scraps are then processed through a system called microwave-assisted pyrolysis, which converts them into fuel pellets. These pellets power small sections of the vessel, like the water park. However, the scale of these efforts barely makes a dent in the overall problem. In 2022, Royal Caribbean reported generating over 53,655 cubic meters of food waste.
Strict buffet regulations and limited kitchen turnaround times contribute to the issue. The company has made progress since 2019, reducing food waste by 24% and aiming for a 50% reduction by 2025. While this is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to tackle the problem of cruise ship buffet waste.
Source: https://www.thetakeout.com/1762421/cruise-ship-buffet-food-waste