Costa Cruises has presented the third edition of its Sustainability Report, for the period from December 2006 to November 2007, drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and certified by RINA (the Italian Shipping Register).

“2007 was an excellent year in terms of financial performance, with operating results that strengthened the leadership in Italy and across Europe of Costa Cruises, the first operator in Europe to set the record of 1,100,000 guest bookings in 12 months,” commented Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi. “The Sustainability Report confirms that Costa’s economic and market excellence is matched by its excellence in the fields of environmental protection and social accountability.”

The Sustainability Report, which is consultable online at www.costacruises.com/corporate/Best4/sustainabilyreport, is a purely voluntary form of reporting designed to provide comprehensive and transparent information on the effects of corporate activity on the environment and the community. In addition to its social, environmental and economic performance, the Report also conveys the basic operating principles of the Company, currently the only cruise line in Italy that has an Environmental Management System developed in accordance with the latest international standards (UNI EN ISO 14001, issued in 2004) and the only cruise line in Italy to be certified for social accountability (SA 8000 issued in 2001).

Setting itself more ambitious objectives that go beyond the scope of mandatory requirements, Costa Cruises obtained important results in the area of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION during the period dealt with in the report:

 A 15 per cent reduction in the consumption of water supplied on board the ships: most of the water (73 per cent in 2007) used on the ships in the Costa fleet is produced directly on board by means of reverse desalination plants
 A 10 per cent reduction in the amount of rubbish generated: sorting for recycling is applied to 100 per cent of solid waste on board, which is treated separately for each category using compactors, incinerators and glass crushers. There is also a company ban on the overboard discharge of any solid waste
 An 18 per cent increase in the quantity of waste recycled: approximately 400m3 of aluminum was sent for recycling in 2007, under an agreement with CIAL (National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Aluminum), while the same year about 2100m3 of glass was sent for recycling. Contractors were also chosen for recycling of cooking oil and batteries. In recognition of its commitment to recycling, Costa Cruises won the CIAL “Comune Riciclone” award in 2007”
 The commissioning of feasibility studies designed to reduce fuel consumption and air emissions of the ships, and thereby limit the environmental impact of the fleet. At present, a campaign of sampling and analysis is being carried out on board Costa’s liners with measurement of engine and diesel generator emissions, and monitoring of levels of electromagnetic emissions from the generation and supply of electrical power
 The endorsement of the Venice Blue Flag agreement designed to safeguard the environment and heritage of Venice. Under the terms of this initiative, which is promulgated by the local municipality, Harbor Master’s Office and Port Authority, Costa Cruises adopts standards for all its ships calling in Venice that are stricter than the environmental compliance provisions currently in force

The report also describes the many initiatives undertaken in the field of SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
 The employee training activities were extended – for example, with the opening of a new campus in Manila at the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinari Arts (MIHCA), one of the most prestigious hotel training academies in the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility is dedicated to the education of personnel on Costa's ships employed in the restaurant, housekeeping, galley and bar areas
 The level of safety also improved in several ways, for example by updating the risk assessment for each work area and increasing the efficiency of the abandon ship systems
 In 2007 Costa also sponsored and took part in many community and cultural initiatives, promoting various events both in partnerships and in its own right

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