A-Rosa has enlisted help from the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to help the line create a long-term and measurable sustainability strategy for the period through to 2030 and beyond.

It plans to announce the strategy by mid-2023. It follows completion of what A-Rosa described as a "comprehensive assessment" of its current sustainability position, and various external factors for consideration such as stakeholder mapping and environmental analysis.

A-Rosa will now use the data to calculate its overall sustainability footprint which, besides exploring the line’s environmental impact, will also take into account social and economic factors. This process is already under way.

Once finalised, A-Rosa will use its footprint to inform a "detailed sustainability strategy and roadmap" featuring concrete goals to reduce this footprint while also defining the steps and measures it will take to achieve its goals. This implementation will be monitored by a management tool and supported by the ISI and KIT.

Sandra Wendland, A-Rosa’s sustainability manager, said: “This project clearly demonstrates just how serious we are about creating a sustainable future. We are committed to ensuring we play our part in preserving some of Europe’s most stunning destinations for future generations.

"However, we recognise our approach needs to be holistic, as we have a responsibility not only towards our destinations, but also to our guests and employees."

Wendland said enlisting the help of the two institutes would ensure the line is "accountable, transparent and continually evolving". "A-Rosa is driven by innovation," she continued. "And through this extensive sustainability project, we are setting new standards for the entire river cruise industry."