Sustainability at sea works best when it is visible in daily routines, not just in policy documents. Ponant Explorations Group has taken that idea to heart, committing to a zero-plastic fleet and backing it with practical systems guests will actually use on board. The shift goes far beyond removing a few straws, it reaches into how water is produced, distributed, and enjoyed throughout the voyage.
From Pledges To Practice
Many brands sign environmental charters then take years to implement them. Ponant signed the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative in 2021, then followed through with shipboard changes that replace disposable habits with refill culture. The company focused on single-use items that pile up fastest, targeting bottles first, then tackling straws, cups, laundry bags, and single-serve food packaging.
Why Nordic Filtration Matters
The centrepiece of Ponant’s approach is a network of self-serve Nordic filtration water fountains. These systems chill and filter potable water to a consistent quality, which makes refilling second nature rather than a chore. Because the stations are visible and easy to access, guests do not need to stockpile bottles in their staterooms or queue at a bar for basics, they simply refill and carry on with their day.
Glass Bottling at Scale
Refill culture is easier when the container feels good to use. Ponant equips guests with recyclable glass bottles that are sturdy, pleasant to drink from, and simple to sanitise between uses. Glass removes the plastic taste guests sometimes notice with disposables, it also closes the loop on board, since bottles can be washed and turned around quickly without extra waste.
How The Refill System Changes The Guest Experience
Good sustainability should feel seamless. On Ponant, the refill model blends into the rhythm of shore days, wildlife watching, and quiet time on deck. Rather than limiting convenience, it reduces clutter, improves taste, and frees crew to focus on service that adds value.
Refill Points You Can Actually Use
Placement matters. Filtration stations are positioned in logical places guests frequent during a normal day at sea, which keeps refilling casual and frequent. When hydration is as easy as topping up on the way to the lounge or after a shore landing, the habit sticks and the results add up quickly over a week.
Hydration Without The Waste
The fountains provide consistently filtered water so you get the same crisp profile each time you refill. That reliability encourages guests to bring their glass bottle everywhere, which quietly replaces dozens of single-use bottles on a typical expedition day. The cabin stays tidy, your day pack stays light, and you are never short on water during a hike, kayak, or Zodiac run.
Small Rituals, Big Results
Sustainability rides on tiny rituals that repeat, and refilling is one of the easiest to adopt. Over breakfast, before a lecture, after a swim, each top up removes another plastic item that would otherwise need to be stored, transported, and disposed of ashore. The habit becomes a shared culture on board, and that is where long-term impact begins.
Measuring Impact, One Bottle at a Time
Numbers tell the story of scale. Ponant reports the avoidance of nearly one million plastic water bottles, a reduction equating to about 20 tonnes of plastic waste compared with 2019 usage. Just as importantly, the line has cut single-use plastic per guest from 0.63 kilograms in 2022 to 0.006 kilograms in 2024, a practical indicator that daily life on board has shifted.
One Million Bottles Avoided
Swapping disposables for refills is not symbolic when you multiply it by every guest, every day, across a fleet. Avoiding almost a million bottles means fewer pallets to load, less storage space used on deck, and fewer offloads into fragile port ecosystems. It is cleaner on board and simpler ashore, especially in remote regions where waste infrastructure is limited.
Down from 0.63 Kg to 0.006 Kg
Cutting per-guest plastic from 0.63 kg to 0.006 kg in two seasons shows both operational discipline and guest buy-in. The change reflects more than fountains, it sits alongside bans on plastic straws, cups, laundry bags, and single-serve food packaging. The combined effect removes background waste that used to feel inevitable on ships, replacing it with durable alternatives that work better.
Less Waste, More Space
Waste takes room. By removing bulky shipments of bottled water, Ponant frees storage space for expedition gear and hotel supplies that genuinely enhance the voyage. The crew spends less time handling disposables and more time on guest-facing service, from Zodiac operations to naturalist presentations.
What Responsible Cruising Looks Like Day To Day
Sustainability can be abstract until you notice how it touches familiar moments on board. On Ponant, the refill-first model and plastic bans quietly shape how you settle into your stateroom, how you dine, and how the crew supports your day.
Cabins and Stateroom Touchpoints
A tidy stateroom is easier without piles of plastic bottles. Glass makes it simple to refill, sip, and set down, which keeps surfaces clear and bins lighter. Housekeeping benefits too, since there is less packaging to collect and sort, and more time to focus on comfort touches that matter on an expedition itinerary.
Dining and Shore Days
Mealtimes used to be heavy users of disposables. With plastic cups and single-serve items removed, table settings feel more refined while cutting waste at the source. When you head ashore, taking your glass bottle becomes as natural as wearing a hat, so you arrive hydrated and return without adding to a port’s landfill burden.
Crew Training and Supply Chain
Lasting change depends on systems, not slogans. Crew training supports the new routines, from sanitising glassware at scale to guiding guests toward refill points. Procurement follows suit, favouring bulk formats and durable materials that keep the plastic count low from warehouse to wake.
Who This Is For, And How To Choose
Ponant’s zero-plastic fleet approach will resonate with many travellers, including those who are new to small-ship exploration. If you are deciding whether this ethos aligns with your travel style, think about how you like to spend time at sea and ashore.
Eco Curious Travellers
If you are curious about lower-impact travel but want it to feel effortless, refill culture is an easy on-ramp. You keep the comfort of luxury expedition cruising, you simply swap single-use habits for smarter ones that are already built into the ship.
Frequent Expedition Guests
If you have sailed remote regions before, you know how finite local waste infrastructure can be. Reducing what you bring ashore, even indirectly via ship operations, respects the environments and communities you visit. The refill model matches the spirit of expedition travel, which is to leave the smallest possible trace.
Refilling is a habit kids adopt quickly because it is visible, simple, and a little bit fun. Travelling with grandparents and children becomes easier when everyone can top up together, then focus on penguins, ice, and starry skies rather than hunting for bottles.
Before we wrap, here are two quick ways to put this into your planning and compare it with other lines and regions that interest you. If you want to see where and when Ponant deploys these ships, explore options and sailing dates through our Cruise Finder, then shortlist voyages by destination, season, and ship features that matter to you. If you are choosing between polar, tropical, or cultural routes, the filters help you weigh your preferences quickly without losing sight of sustainability.
Plan A Low-Waste Voyage With Confidence
Ponant’s move to a durable refill culture shows how thoughtful design can shrink waste while improving the guest experience. It is a practical win for oceans, ports, and everyone on board, from the bridge to the bar. When the systems are attractive and easy to use, good habits stick for the whole voyage, and that influence tends to travel home with you after disembarkation.
To talk through ships, seasons, and cabins that fit your style, contact our team to start planning. Ponant equips its fleet with Nordic filtration refill stations, cutting single-use plastic and elevating sustainable cruising.
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