This month, Royal Caribbean Group is celebrating 30 years of Save the Waves, the cruise line’s first (and ongoing) environmental initiative.

Initiated in 1992, over the past 30 years, Save the Waves has grown into a global commitment to engrain sustainability practices into every part of Royal Caribbean Group’s business and culture.

“Save the Waves has served as the strong foundation for what we have accomplished and the ambitious sustainability efforts we are committed to at Royal Caribbean Group,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

“The program, for decades, has helped us create a culture dedicated to environmental performance and our commitment to protecting our oceans.”

When it was introduced, the Save the Waves initiative was primarily focused on waste management and reduction, the company said, in a statement.

Since then, it has evolved to include a range of policies, activities, and innovations.

“Decades ago, when we introduced Save the Waves, we made a commitment to continuous improvement that we live by today,” said Nick Rose, associate vice president of environmental programs at Royal Caribbean Group.

“Throughout my 15-year career at Royal Caribbean Group, including four years as an Environmental Officer, I have been proud to be part of our continual progress in this area, which wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of thousands of crewmembers and millions of guests.”

Since introducing Save the Waves, Royal Caribbean Group has reached multiple milestones including:

• Introducing dedicated onboard Environmental Officers to ensure waste management standards are met
• Becoming the first cruise company to be ISO 14001 for Environmental Management Certified
• Using its Green Hub waste vendor program to divert 87% of its waste from landfills
• Equipping all its ships with modern waste management facilities and processes to prevent waste from ending up in landfills
• Installing wastewater purification systems across 88% of its fleet
• Training every new member on Save the Waves rules to ensure proper waste management protocols are followed