So far, over 600 sustainable holiday pledges have been made by holidaymakers and more than 60 travel companies, from tour operators to hotels, have taken part in a wide range of initiatives.
ABTA is reminding travel businesses, tourist boards and hotels that they can still get involved – as every action counts. From taking part in plastic free initiatives, organising a clean-up activity or encouraging holidaymakers to make a holiday pledge – from saying no to plastic to eating locally – companies can choose how they’d like to take action.
This summer, the Make Holidays Greener campaign has shared how businesses have committed to reducing single-use plastic consumption through initiatives such as no longer serving individual plastic portions of jam, butter and milk, replacing plastic laundry bags with linen ones and issuing reusable water bottles and bags to holidaymakers. More examples are available on the Make Holidays Greener website.
MHG 2018 launched in June with a ‘Say no to plastic’ theme. ABTA Members and destinations have been looking at plastics as part of their wider sustainability strategy for some time now – working on issues such as waste management and recycling in destination, as well as looking at the use of plastics.
For companies looking to adapt their broader sustainability approach beyond the summer, ABTA’s sustainability programme, Better Places, supports Members to adopt the best policy that works for them; and the Travelife certification scheme for hotels & accommodation works with travel businesses around the world to help them improve their social, economic and environmental impacts. 1,400 hotels now measure themselves using the Travelife sustainability criteria – which includes acting to minimise waste and packaging use.
Nikki White, ABTA Director of Destinations and Sustainability comments: “It’s not too late for travel companies to get involved with this year’s Make Holidays Greener campaign. There have already been some fantastic initiatives and it’s a great opportunity for travel companies to share best practice of what has worked, try out new approaches and get customers involved.
“As is often the case with sustainability, there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Specifically when it comes to plastics, companies need to make the choice that’s right for their business. However, every action matters, whether it’s switching from disposable cups to reusable ones, replacing plastic with other materials, promoting recycling or using social media to invite holidaymakers to make a pledge.”
“Almost 40% of consumers say the environmental credentials of holiday providers are important, which has doubled since 2011, and businesses can use this to drive for a change in their approach internally, as well as with suppliers and destinations.”
Holidaymakers can make a pledge via http://www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk/holidaymaker. Those who register a pledge on the website until 30 September 2018 will also be entered into a prize draw to win a GoPro camera with waterproof casing.
Travel companies can contact sustainabletourism@abta.co.uk to sign up or share what they’re doing.
Holidaymakers and travel companies can share their activity on social media using #MHG18.
The pledges are:
- Say no to plastic
- Look for the Travelife logo – stay at a hotel that cares for the environment and its staff such as Travelife certified hotels
- Reduce, re-use and recycle – leave and recycle any packaging at home before you travel
- Organise a holiday clean up
- Protect biodiversity
- Eat local produce
- Buy local souvenirs
- Respect local customs and talk to locals in their languages
- Protect children – support local community projects and refrain from giving money to begging children or visit orphanages
- Offset your carbon
- Use local transport
- Switch off electrical devices in your accommodation when you’re not using them
- Save water – reuse towels and take shorter showers
- Tell the world – tell the world about my positive holiday experiences and leave an honest travel review
- Free choice – the chance to organise or suggest an activity specific to your holiday
