Plastic litter on beaches has increased by 140% since 1994, but the travel industry is uniquely placed to turn this around. A healthy coastal environment is critical for both the local community and the wildlife.
This summer, Abta with support from Travelife and The Travel Foundation, is running the Big Holiday Beach Clean, which is part of the industry’s annual Make Holidays Greener campaign.
Abta is taking the lead for the first time this year, as we recognise the importance of talking to customers on sustainability in a user-friendly way. We know people want to relax on holiday, and they see that it is the travel company’s responsibility to address environmental issues. But almost a third of holidaymakers would be likely to choose a company based on its environmental record.
Make Holidays Greener Month – which takes place in July – is an opportunity for the travel industry to celebrate what they are doing. You can offer a richer holiday experience that leaves your customers confident they are benefiting the local environment and community.
A beach clean offers a simple way to engage clients, suppliers, employees and the wider community, particularly as we know from our own research that almost two thirds (65%) of people who spend time on the beach said a clean beach is the most important thing for them.
Already, 21 beach cleans have been conducted with an estimated 2,867kg of rubbish collected. Last year, 108 beach cleans were organised worldwide, involving 68 organisations and more than 1,000 people. Beaches were cleaned in
20 countries, keeping four tonnes of rubbish out of the marine ecosystem.
This is important as the amount of plastic entering the oceans is gathering increasing attention.
About 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans, and this is entering the food chain.
The industry is also reducing the amount of rubbish produced in the first place with initiatives such as Travelife, an internationally recognised sustainable tourism certification. As part of the Travelife audit criteria, a hotel must show how it is managing to reduce, reuse and recycle, including plastic, glass and metal.
Collaboration across the industry and with destination governments and communities is key, and this is why Abta is working with our members and destinations on issues affecting the environment.
Companies can support the campaign by signing up for a beach clean between now and the end of July, and by sharing their efforts on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #MHG2016. Park or mountain clean-ups can also be organised; see makeholidaysgreener.org.uk for tips and ideas.
Nikki White is director of destinations and sustainability, Abta