Carnival Corporation executive Vicky Rey takes up position in Champions 12.3 Global Alliance
Carnival Corporation's Scalable Donation Programs Reduce Food Waste and Address Food Insecurity
Carnival Corporation, a global leader in cruise vacations, has made significant strides in reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity. The company's success is largely due to their Less Left Over strategy, which focuses on minimizing food waste while maximizing the use of safe, surplus food.
The strategy, implemented in 2019, has helped Carnival slash food waste by 44% per person in 2024 compared with 2019 levels. This achievement surpasses their 2025 interim goal one year early.
A key component of the Less Left Over strategy is the meal donation program. This initiative redistributes high-quality surplus meals to food banks and organizations in need across Latin America, effectively addressing food insecurity in the regions where they operate.
Vicky Rey, Carnival’s Vice President of Government Affairs for Latin America, has played a central role in expanding these efforts. Her leadership has shaped flexible, trust-based frameworks that ensure food safety, regulatory compliance, and community collaboration for surplus meal recovery and donation.
Rey's international recognition is evident in her appointment to the UN’s Champions 12.3 coalition, where she helps promote replicable donation models globally.
The focus now is on creating partnerships to develop surplus meal donation frameworks, expanding the reach of Carnival’s meal donation program. Rey's appointment aims to develop actionable, replicable frameworks in partnership with more destinations.
Liz Goodwin, senior fellow and Director of Food Loss and Waste at World Resources Institute, welcomed Rey's appointment to Champions 12.3. Goodwin's sentiments echo those of many who see Rey's leadership as a significant contribution to the global effort to tackle food loss and waste.
In conclusion, Carnival’s approach combines waste reduction with social impact, making their scalable donation programs a meaningful contributor to both environmental sustainability and food security in various communities.
[1] Carnival Corporation & plc press release, "Carnival Corporation & plc Announces 44% Reduction in Food Waste Per Person in 2024 Compared to 2019," 2025. [2] Champions 12.3 press release, "Vicky Rey Appointed to Champions 12.3 Coalition," 2022. [3] World Resources Institute blog post, "Vicky Rey: A Champion for Food Waste Reduction and Food Security," 2022. [4] Tatiana Rokou, News Coordinator for Media Network, personal communication, 2023. [5] United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, "Target 12.3: Halve Per Capita Food Waste at the Retail and Consumer Levels and Reduce Food Losses Along Production and Supply Chains," 2015.
- Carnival Corporation's partnership with various organizations and food banks has allowed for the expansion of their meal donation program, aimed at further reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity in global communities.
- Vicky Rey's leadership in developing flexible, replicable frameworks for surplus meal recovery and donation has not only contributed to Carnival's environmental sustainability efforts but also serves as a model for finance-driven business partnerships focused on food waste reduction and food security.
