Tui promises sustainability in the future – or does it? picture alliance / Rupert Oberhäuser
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) filed a lawsuit against Tui Cruises, condemning Tui’s advertising for more sustainability, reports the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
Tui advertises future-oriented technologies such as e-fuels and biofuel, which are not yet fully developed or usable.
The DUH criticizes the fact that false promises are made to customers who think that Tui works sustainably.
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) called on the cruise company Tui Cruises to remove the vague sustainability promises from its website, reports „Süddeutsche Zeitung“ (SZ). In a lawsuit, the DUH criticizes that Tui’s sustainable goals are neither comprehensible nor sufficient and show customers a false image. Tui defends its actions and wants to keep its advertising promises online.
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Save money with more sustainability?
Cruises are not only one of the most popular travel options, but also one of the most environmentally harmful. According to “SZ”, the professor of tourism at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, Andreas Humpe, has calculated that after a week of cruising, almost 827 kilograms of CO per passenger end up in the atmosphere. That is almost a tenth of the annual emissions per person in Germany of almost ten tons of COâ‚‚.
Since January 1st, shipping has also been included in the European emissions trading system. Shipping companies currently have to purchase certificates for 40 percent of the emissions emitted, writes the “SZ”. From 2025, this will be mandatory for 70 percent of emissions, and from 2026 it will be mandatory for 100 percent.
The head of Travel Data Analytics, Markus Heller, emphasizes to the “SZ” that shipping companies are feeling a certain pressure to be more sustainable. Because if emitting emissions becomes expensive, shipping companies could save money by being more sustainable.
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Tui advertises sustainability and thus attracts customers
Some cruise companies are already advertising sustainability. Tui Cruises also advertises on its own Website with energy efficiency, emissions reduction and shore power. But are the promises for more sustainability just vague forecasts?
The DUH suspects this and filed an injunction against Tui’s advertising promises, as the “SZ” did in its Article reported. The main focus of the lawsuit is that the cruise company wants to win over customers by advertising sustainable future technology – which may not even work.
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Tui defends its advertising strategies and did not follow the DUH’s cease and desist demand, writes the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. The cruise company considers the lawsuit to be “unfounded”. “We will consistently pursue our climate protection strategy, our goals and measures, the DUH lawsuit will not change this,” emphasizes a spokesman for Tui. The company has until March to respond to the lawsuit.
md
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