Carnival Cuts Food Waste by 44%, Beating 2025 Goal Early

Rotting fruit and vegetables
Environment Corporate News Cruise Industry
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Carnival Corporation has announced a major milestone in its sustainability journey, reporting a 44% decrease in unit food waste in 2024 compared to 2019—exceeding its goal of a 40% reduction an entire year ahead of schedule.

“Less Left Over” Strategy Drives Success

The achievement is attributed to Carnival’s comprehensive “Less Left Over” food management initiative, which integrates a range of programs and technologies aimed at optimizing how food is sourced, prepared, and served across its fleet.

According to a press release, these efforts have helped the company avoid more than $250 million in food-related expenses since 2019.

“Our Less Left Over strategy is powered by dozens of large and small programs and technologies across our cruise lines to cut food waste by 50 percent by 2030,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

Holistic Food Lifecycle Management

Carnival’s progress is the result of a wide-reaching approach that targets each phase of the food journey—onboard and ashore. Key components of the strategy include:

  • Utilizing data analytics and smart systems for more accurate ingredient purchasing and menu development
  • Implementing AI-driven tools to synchronize meal preparation with guest dining trends
  • Training staff and refining plating techniques for efficiency
  • Offering optimized portion sizes
  • Donating surplus food and ingredients where possible

The company is also extending the usability of food products through creative repurposing, such as transforming used coffee grounds into vegan soaps and converting spent cooking oil into biofuel for Alaska-based tour vehicles.

Advanced Waste Treatment Across the Fleet

In cases where food waste can't be reused, Carnival focuses on minimizing what’s left. The fleet now operates with more than 630 biodigesters, which use natural bacteria to break down food waste into liquid form.

Additionally, the company employs over 90 dehydrators and dryers to remove moisture from more challenging waste materials. These byproducts are then either composted, used as mulch, or offloaded for further sustainable processing.

Carnival’s early achievement highlights its ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact through innovation and practical, scalable solutions across its global operations.