More travel companies are looking to go plastic-free
Alex Butler
Lonely Planet Writer
Eco-conscious travellers are always aware that the planes, trains and automobiles used to get to their next destination means leaving a carbon footprint. But, some of the biggest travel companies are trying to make vacations a bit more eco-friendly by going plastic-free.
After the service trolley rolls down the aisle, it’s followed by a flight attendant to collect the massive amount of waste created on flights. To offset this, Irish budget airline Ryanair has announced its plans to go plastic-free over the next five years. The company’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said in a statement that the new environmental plan “includes our commitment to eliminate all non-recyclable plastics from our operations over the next five years. For customers on board, this will mean initiatives such as a switch to wooden cutlery, bio-degradable coffee cups, and the removal of plastics from our range of in-flight products”.
While the exact timeline for the changes are not yet known, the company is also hoping to let travellers rest easy by allowing them to offset the carbon cost of their flight through a voluntary climate charity donation online.
Another massive name in travel, Royal Caribbean cruise line, has announced its plans to eliminate single-use plastics. The company, along with its subsidiaries like Celebrity Cruises, are looking at ways to reduce the amount of plastic used aboard its ships, according to the Telegraph. This will include getting rid of frequently wasted items like straws and water bottles – something that could have a lot of impact over the company’s entire fleet.
If you want to learn more about how to reduce your use of plastic while travelling, find out more about it here.
