Sustainability

Our ambition is both bold and necessary. We strive to be the most sustainable travel operator in the world. And we aim to push the industry’s boundaries for ESG.

Protecting our planet

Emissions

We recognise that expedition cruising involves a significant volume of emissions. Our emissions reductions focus on: a) Reducing Direct Emissions: We invest heavily in hybrid fleet technology and optimise cruise itineraries to minimise operational fuel consumption. b) Reducing Indirect Emissions: We target our broader value chain impact by mapping Scope 3 emissions and auditing supplier commitments

Nature

We utilise science and activism to safeguard the powerful oceans, rugged landscapes, and delicate ecosystems we explore. Leaving No Trace: We responsibly manage our operational footprint via advanced onboard wastewater treatment, reverse-osmosis water production, and strict recycling protocols. Restoring & Protecting Nature: We fund global conservation via the HX Foundation and support researchers with dedicated onboard science cabins and citizen science.

Communities

We ensure our voyages deliver tangible benefits by fostering inclusive internal cultures and respecting local populations. Supporting Our People & Culture: We focus internally on advancing maritime diversity, ensuring pay equity, and ensuring everyone has a voice. Rewarding Communities and Partnerships: We drive external economic resilience through local sourcing, community-led itineraries and excursions, and targeted disbursements through the HX Foundation.

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Emissions

What are we doing to get there

As an industry leader in green expedition travel, HX has a long track record of action to reduce our climate impact:

In 2008, we became the first cruise company to ban heavy fuel oils
In 2019, we launched the world’s first hybrid-battery powered expedition ships—MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen
Three ships in our fleet— MS Spitsbergen, MS Fridtjof Nansen, and MS Roald Amundsen—are now equipped with shore power connectivity, enabling us to significantly reduce emissions while docked in ports such as those in Iceland and Norway
Our Galápagos sailings on the MS Santa Cruz II are 100% carbon neutral through a Nature-Based Carbon Removal (NBCR) programme restoring Ecuador’s Chocó Andino cloud forest
We reuse waste heat from engines to warm water tanks, improving onboard energy efficiency
In 2024, we introduced a carbon itinerary tool to flag high-emission routes and reduce emissions at the planning stage

Why this is important to us

Expedition travel takes us to some of the most fragile environments on Earth. We recognise the role our emissions play in driving climate change and are committed to reducing them as fast as possible. Every tonne of CO₂ avoided helps safeguard the regions we explore – and our long-term ability to keep exploring them.

What are we working towards

Net Zero Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by or before 2050, and carbon neutral Scope 1 operations by 2040.

Impact on nature

What are we doing to get there

Our journeys connect people with the wildest corners of the planet—and we’re determined to keep those places wild. Our Nature strategy is divided into two parts: Leave No Footprint and Restore Nature.

Leave No Footprint

All waste is carefully sorted on board into recycling, food waste, and landfill streams, with ongoing efforts to improve traceability and disposal practices
In 2024, we reduced food waste by 48% compared to 2023, to just 162g per guest per day
Our Greenstay Programme allows guests to forego room cleaning, reducing water, energy, and chemical use; 24% of guest nights opted in during 2024. For each Greenstay, HX donates €0.50 to the HX Foundation to support nature and local projects
99% of the water used on board is produced using reverse osmosis or evaporators, reducing pressure on freshwater sources
We follow strict biosecurity protocols to prevent the spread of invasive species, particularly in Antarctica

Restoring Nature

We support the industry’s leading Science & Education Programme, donating 1,911 cruise nights in 2024 to guest scientists researching climate, biodiversity, and ocean health
We launched the first university-accredited short course for guests and staff, focused on Antarctic ecosystems, history, and governance
Guests actively contribute to science on board through citizen science projects like whale tracking, cloud monitoring, and plankton sampling
Our ships collect environmental data, including water quality, microplastics, and CO₂ levels
Through our partnership with NFTree, we’ve helped restore over 600 acres of Ecuador’s Chocó Andino as part of our carbon-neutral Galápagos sailings
Through Ocean Bottle, our crew and guests helped prevent over 45 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean

Why this is important to us

Biodiversity loss is accelerating—and expedition travel is in a unique position to support the science needed to study and reverse it. Our voyages bring people closer to nature and inspire them to protect it. We’re committed to advancing conservation, supporting research, and reducing our impact at every level.

What we working towards

Leaving no footprint: we are working to reduce waste and ensure that what we do produce is disposed of and recycled properly Restoring nature: we aim to increase our contribution to science every year, from increasing the number of cabins dedicated to guest scientists to expanding the HX Foundation’s support for biodiversity projects

People

What are we doing to get there

Our people—on board and ashore—are the heart of everything we do.

In 2024, we received the Princess Royal Training Award for our “Guiding in Polar Bear Environments” course, recognising our leadership in safety and training
We opened a Gold LEED-certified Guest Excellence Centre in Prague, hiring more than 70 people across functions like IT, HR, Finance, and Customer Experience
Our team of nearly 1,000 spans over 60 nationalities, and we’re committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture across land and sea
We launched our first Employee Resource Groups—ShEquality and Rainbow Explorers—to support underrepresented voices
We partnered with Simwave in Rotterdam to deliver immersive, scenario-based training tailored to our expedition operations
Our university-accredited Antarctic course is available to both staff and guests, deepening understanding of the region’s governance, ecology, and climate context

Why this is important for us

Delivering exceptional expedition experiences starts with the people who make them happen. By investing in our team’s wellbeing, training, and voice, we build a stronger, safer, and more inclusive culture - one that’s equipped to deliver purpose-driven travel.

What we are working towards.

We are working to ensure we have the best safety record in the industry, increase representation across our business, and foster a culture where every team member feels valued, heard, and motivated to make a difference.

Communities

What are we doing to get there

At HX, we want the communities we visit to benefit from our presence long after we depart. That’s why we’ve established the HX Foundation, which has supported more than 100 local and environmental projects globally.

In 2024, the HX Foundation donated over €400,000 to 58 projects across 19 countries, supporting conservation, education, and local development
Our Rapid Response Fund enables our teams to allocate grants of up to €1,000 to meet urgent needs in the communities we visit
Guests contributed over €229,000 to the HX Foundation in 2024 through Greenstay and onboard fundraising activities
We became the first expedition cruise company to hire two product team members directly from the Indigenous communities we travel to
We source locally whenever possible to reduce transport emissions and support regional economies, while carefully managing trade-offs to avoid overburdening small suppliers

Why this is important to us..

Expedition cruising brings us face to face with diverse cultures and remote communities. With that privilege comes responsibility. We aim to ensure our visits are collaborative, respectful, and leave a positive, lasting impact.

What we are working towards...

We can only improve what is measured. We aim to introduce a community feedback mechanism and develop a total community contribution metric to help us refine our product and maximise our positive impact.

2025 Annual Report

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2020 Annual Report