TUI Cruises, Port of Tallinn and Estonian Food Bank join forces to reduce food waste and support local communities

Surplus food from TUI Cruises ships calling at the Tallinn Old City Harbour will now reach people in need thanks to a new collaboration between cruise operator TUI Cruises, Port of Tallinn, and the Estonian Food Bank. The initiative helps fight food waste while supporting vulnerable groups within the local community.
Victoria Müller, Sustainability Manager at TUI Cruises, underlined the importance of the pilot project: "Our new collaboration with the Food Bank in the Port of Tallinn reflects our firm commitment to both social equity and environmental responsibility. We actively reduce food waste on our vessels through careful planning and portioning; however occasional surplus can occur. By donating surplus food, we not only help reduce avoidable waste but also support those in need within the local community. It's a great example of effective cooperation and shared values between all parties. And we greatly appreciate the pragmatic and solution-oriented approach of our partners - definitely a blueprint for other cruise ports."
Cruise ships inevitably generate food surplus, but instead of going to waste, this food will now be redistributed by the Estonian Food Bank. The cruise ship Mein Schiff 7 donated food in Tallinn during her four calls in 2025.
Piet Boerefijn, Founder and CEO of the Estonian Food Bank, highlighted the significance: "The Food Bank gladly accepts every kilogram of food donated to us. We see that socially responsible behavior is part of the cruise operators' ethos - in fact, such cooperation with local food banks exists in many ports where cruise ships call. Now, through our partnership with TUI Cruises and Port of Tallinn, this surplus food will be redirected to those who need it most. We believe this cooperation will continue in the coming seasons, allowing us to jointly combat food waste."
Sirle Arro, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Port of Tallinn, emphasized the broader impact: "In recent years, many cruise lines have highlighted that engaging with local communities is not just an act of goodwill - it is essential for sustainable operations and for creating mutual benefit in the places where ships call. Port of Tallinn warmly welcomes the valuable initiative by TUI Cruises to donate surplus food to those in need. Together, we can promote sustainable consumption and ensure that food reaches the people who need it most."
The Estonian Food Bank was established in March 2010 to alleviate poverty and fight food waste in Estonian society. The network today consists of 16 food banks operating in regional centers across the country. In 2024, the Food Bank distributed 4.4 million kilograms of rescued and donated food - a 6% increase compared to the previous year.