Food Waste Intelligence
Posted By Leanpath on Jun 12, 2025
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has made a remarkable stride in its sustainability journey, announcing a significant 41% reduction in food waste across its fleet, achieved through its partnership with Leanpath. This impressive achievement in 2024 is equivalent to saving more than 185,417 meals, showcasing a strong commitment to environmental responsibility in the luxury river cruise sector.
“Sustainability is woven into everything we do at Uniworld,” says Uniworld’s Sustainability Officer Julie Higgins. “We’ve come a long way since launching the How We Tread Right plan nearly five years ago, and we’re very proud of the progress we’ve made.”
The announcement was made in Uniworld’s just-released annual Impact Report, which reviewed other successes, including:
- 100% of its electricity sourced from renewable sources;
- Reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 23% and scope 3 emissions by 20%;
- Invested $2.23 million in decarbonization projects.
Uniworld's dedication to combating food waste extends beyond statistics. The cruise line actively engages its guests in these sustainability efforts. Through innovative initiatives like a "Progressive Dinner" series, guests are invited behind the scenes, including the galley, where chefs demonstrate how Leanpath technology is used. This direct engagement helps guests understand the importance of food waste prevention and Uniworld's commitment to it. You can read more about their guest engagement strategies in this blog post: How Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Engages Guests with Leanpath.
Higgins is the driving force behind much of Uniworld's sustainability success, particularly in food waste prevention. Her pioneering work in implementing Leanpath across Uniworld's ships has been recognized with the prestigious Future Lights Award from the United States Tour Operators Association. Under her leadership, Uniworld became the first river cruise company to adopt a comprehensive food waste management system fleet-wide. Learn more about Julie Higgins's achievement and Uniworld's innovative approach here: Uniworld Sustainability Officer Wins Future Lights Award for Preventing Food Waste with Leanpath.
The partnership between Leanpath and Uniworld serves as a powerful example of how collaboration and innovation can lead to significant positive environmental impact, setting a new standard for sustainability in the travel industry.