Last year, Finnish shipping company Viking Line introduced a low-emission conference service for organizations that wanted to hold conferences aboard one of the company’s vessels. The Green Sea Conference reduces a conference’s greenhouse gas emissions by about 90%. This spring, the company said it will make Green Sea Conferences available on all its cruise routes bought in Finland and expand them to three additional ships.
To throw a low-emission conference, groups cover the price of the biofuel for the length of the journey. Other sustainability measures include EU-certified and organic coffee; food that’s 70% locally sourced; and digital, instead of printed, conference materials. If they wish, customers holding a Green Sea Conference can get a report on the carbon footprint of their trip.
“If all our conference customers chose the Green Conference alternative, that would mean a reduction in emissions equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 2,000 Finns,” says Viking Line’s Head of Sales, Philip Sjöstrand. “Large companies that include sustainability in their strategy have shown the biggest interest. The green alternative is a natural choice for them,” he said.
In 2024, 1,800 passengers held meetings with low emissions on Green Sea Conference ships.
