Clean Seas

AECO is Combating Marine Plastic Pollution

In 2018 AECO signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to prevent and reduce marine litter. Since then, AECO has contributed to the Clean Seas-campaign.

As part of these efforts, members have drastically cut back on single-use plastics on their vessels, as well as enhancing passenger involvement in beach cleanups. AECO also focuses on educating passengers and staff on how to prevent plastic pollution.

In 2020, AECO was awarded with the Energy Globes “World Award for Sustainability” for the work with the Clean Seas.

Resource Videos

Clean Up Svalbard

Clean Up Svalbard was started as an initiative by an AECO member in collaboration with the Governor of Svalbard to tackle coastal waste in the region. Since 2000, cleaning littered beaches has been a key part of AECO’s environmental efforts.

Clean Up Iceland

In 2023 AECO’s members started doing cleanups in Iceland after AECO had identified shorelines and gotten permissions from authorities and landowners to conduct cleanups. Clean Up Iceland gives guides and passengers from AECO’s member vessels the opportunity to explore remote coastal areas while doing cleanups.

Report Cleanups

All cleanups should be reported to AECO through the Cruise Database.The data is vital to enhancing our understanding of Arctic marine pollution and helps demonstrate AECO members’ efforts to address this issue.