PHOTO COURTESY OF CRUISE THE GREAT LAKES
A recently booming Great Lakes cruise industry is now making strides towards sustainability with a new sustainability pledge that an association of cruise lines, tourism agencies, port authorities, U.S. states and Canadian provinces are adhering with. The pledge consists of 19 commitments across four categories: destination stewardship, air emissions and carbon reduction, wastewater disposal and recycling.
The new sustainability pledge aligns with Michigan’s new MI Healthy Climate Plan which aims to create a carbon-neutral Michigan economy by 2050. Members joining the pledge commit to using more biofuel and alternative fuel technology, sourcing food locally, not dumping waste water in lakes, and reusing supplies when possible. An array of Great Lakes agencies, towns and cruise lines have joined in the sustainability efforts, including recent additions of the visitors bureaus of Holland and Muskegon, the visitors bureau and port authority of Detroit, and Pure Michigan.
To learn more, visit .cruisethegreatlakes.com.
