Sourcing local produce is an effective sustainability strategy


NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Sustainable thinking T


Spain Sustainability Day: Tourist board hosts ‘ethical tourism’ event. Andrew McQuarrie reports accessibility


he travel industry could learn lessons from the fashion sector on reducing waste, according


to Abta’s head of sustainability. Carol Rose pointed to the growth


in interest in vintage or ‘pre-loved’ clothing and suggested a similar approach could be applied to products in the tourism industry. She said: “The travel industry is


used to challenges and overcoming them when they present themselves.” Rose, who worked in the fashion


industry before joining Abta two years ago, was among the panellists in a ‘circular economy’ session at the Spain Sustainability Day in London last week. It can be difficult for travel sellers


to highlight sustainability messages to customers at the point of sale because clients are mainly concerned about destination and cost, Rose said. But she insisted key messages


Carbon footprint


Travel companies should aim for “progress rather than perfection” when reducing their carbon footprint, according to a sustainability specialist. Charlie Cotton, founder of environmental


Charlie Cotton


consultancy ecollective, said it is vital the industry cuts its emissions by 50% by 2030 and suggested companies “need to be worried” about the escalating threat posed by climate change. He urged firms to design trips with smaller carbon


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can be communicated by displays in hotel rooms, for example, once the customer is on their trip. “Engage them in a story around the circular economy,” said Rose.


Sustainable practices Reducing food waste and extending the lifespan of hotel furniture are among ways the tourism industry could apply circular economy principles, Rose said. She added that hairdryers and electric shavers


Carol Rose


are examples of hotel products that should not necessarily be thrown away when they stop working. Nadine Pinto, global sustainability


manager at The Travel Corporation (TTC), said it was unfortunate that the travel industry had yet to fully embrace circular economy principles. She said practices employed by


TTC brands include using food waste in subsequent meals, offering glass bottles instead of plastic and halting the distribution of branded merchandise on tours. Gabriel Llobera Ramis, marketing


and communications manager at Garden Hotels, said the business set up by his grandfather has been using artificial intelligence to help with waste management. He encouraged others to form their own “circularity” strategies, adding that ‘buying local’ was an effective tactic. “We should get things done like our grandparents used to,” he said.


footprints, adding that any improvements are welcome. “We need progress rather than perfection,” he said. Aside from mode of transport, Cotton said carbon savings could be made via other travel elements, such as food and hotel choices. If a supplier has a heavy carbon footprint,


ties with them could be severed, he said, or they could be encouraged to reduce their emissions. He encouraged firms to be “relentless”, saying: “The


journey never stops. Even if your [emissions] score today is fantastic, you can still get lower.”


25 APRIL 2024 Angus Drummond


Travel companies should make sure their websites give clear guidance about accessibility arrangements on trips, according to Abta’s director of industry relations. Susan Deer said information should be displayed for every stage of the journey, from leaving the house to returning home. “Here’s a challenge to service providers: check your websites,” she added. Speaking on an accessibility and inclusivity panel, Deer said everyone in the industry should have at least a basic understanding of accessible travel. Customers with a disability should be treated as guests “first and foremost”, said Limitless Travel founder Angus Drummond, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in his early 20s. “Tour operators should


treat everyone the same by asking what customers’ needs are,” he said.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: IK Aldama; Shutterstock/Jacob Lund


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