Oceanwide Expeditions, a veteran polar operator, published its first ESG report on 21 October 2026, in Vlissingen, Netherlands. The report covers the company's environmental, social and governance work: fleet efficiency, waste reduction, support for science, a Brazilian Amazon restoration project, and a plan for two next-generation eco-sail expedition vessels from 2029.
CEO Rémi Bouysset called the report an important transparency step, saying it records where the company stands, what it has achieved, and where improvement is still needed. He said exploring the polar regions is an immense privilege that carries a responsibility to understand impact and take meaningful action. The report gives the company a foundation to measure progress and make better-informed decisions, he said.
The report measures current operations, not just targets
Oceanwide says it is investing in fleet efficiency through route planning, engine optimization, hull maintenance, and waste heat recovery. Hotel teams have led the push to remove single-use plastics, cut food and energy waste, switch to more environmentally conscious cleaning products, and choose food more purposefully. The company also works with local suppliers and says it has reduced emissions in its supply and logistics chain.
Oceanwide says its operations align closely with the frameworks of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. The report also lists support for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust and the South Georgia Heritage Trust, and long-standing relationships with remote communities including Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean.
In March 2026, Oceanwide announced the signing of a Letter of Intent to build two next-generation eco-sail expedition vessels. The vessels are planned to join the fleet from 2029, with hybrid technologies and energy storage systems planned. The company says the investment reflects an ambition to evolve the fleet while keeping the small-ship approach, active experiences, and close connection to nature that define its expeditions.
The Amazon project is self-funded and guests contribute
Oceanwide bought more than 1,600 hectares of degraded rainforest in the Brazilian Amazon in 2023, starting a long-term restoration and stewardship program. The stated aims are restoring native ecosystems, protecting endangered plant and animal species, supporting biodiversity, contributing to carbon sequestration, and creating opportunities for local communities. The project also backs several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Oceanwide says the initiative is entirely self-funded. Guests contribute through their participation in the company's expeditions. The company puts education and scientific engagement at the center of its responsible-exploration approach, and citizen science initiatives plus research-project support let guests help build understanding of the environments they visit.
Sustainability extends beyond environmental performance
Oceanwide ties the quality of its expeditions to the knowledge, commitment, and expertise of its expedition teams, and the company prioritizes employee safety, wellbeing, and professional development. It also treats the cumulative effects of growing polar tourism as part of responsible exploration.
The company says small-scale operations, careful landing planning, responsible wildlife encounters, and an education-first approach are how it balances access with ecological sensitivity. Bouysset said ESG is not a separate program running alongside the business but is connected to daily decisions on how ships are operated, people are looked after, science is engaged, and visited places are protected. He said progress has been made, but complacency is not possible, and the ambition is to keep improving.
The full 2026 ESG report is titled Oceanwide Expeditions 2026 ESG Report. For a buyer weighing operators, the report is a usable checklist: fleet efficiency, waste reduction, science support, and a specific timeline for new vessels. The question worth putting to an operator is what its own report measures and how it reports progress.