TIME TO GET DRASTIC WITH PLASTIC…
Addressing the travel industry’s single-use plastic problem goes beyond the humble straw. Holly Tuppen takes a look at the problems and solutions ahead of today’s session on the topic
T
hanks to David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II, the plastic
crisis is lodged in the minds and hearts of millions of people around the world. But, when it comes to solutions, we still have a long way to go. Today’s panel session, Plastic Waste: What should the industry do?, will address the problem, explore innovative solutions and share leading case studies from across the travel industry. “It’s easy to think that by
banning plastic straws and turning to refillable amenities hotels have done their bit, but this is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Andrea Nicholas of Green Tourism. Moving beyond banning plastic
straws, the whole travel industry – including tour operators, event companies, destinations, transport businesses, restaurants, trips, tours and hotels – needs to
“It is
estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the ocean”
invest in eradicating single-use plastic front-of-house, back-of- house and across the entire supply chain.
The problem Plastic pollution threatens everything we love about travel. It can be found on every beach, however remote, and microplastics even litter Arctic ice. It’s estimated that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the open ocean and up to 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic every year. Since plastic crosses oceans, flows down rivers and gets transported around the world in landfill and recycling schemes, many of us are oblivious to the problem. Only those who see it piling up in oceans and on beaches (like campaign group Surfers Against Sewage) have been quick to make a stand. Go-to consultancy and advocacy group Travel Without Plastic
understands the extent of the problem. After
experiencing what she describes as a “Styrofoam
hotel breakfast” one morning,
founder Jo Hendrix,
worked out that “this pretty average-sized hotel was contributing almost 400,000 items of plastic waste to landfill every year –from breakfast cutlery and plates and bowls alone”.
The solutions Those in the lead are exploring innovative back-of-house and supply-chain solutions to bring about real change. Meanwhile, less forward-thinking businesses are burying their head in the sand despite mounting consumer pressure. Although action has been slow,
motivation is higher than ever. “We have received a 700% increase in interest in the Green Tourism Certification Programme in the last year,” says Nicholas. “On the back of consumer demand, businesses are desperately looking for respected green credentials and support, and plastic reduction is an important part of this.” At the moment, big businesses
are leading the charge with compelling stats and statements of intent, while smaller companies are pioneering innovative and collaborative approaches. Organisations such as Water To Go, Travel Without Plastic and Green Tourism are supporting the industry in the transition away from a dependence on single-use
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