by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 11:18 AM ET, Thu May 31, 2018
The war on single-use plastics is fully underway, with travel companies of all types and sizes banning the use of environmentally harmful plastics.
Responsible Travel, a company whose very name serves to underscore its ethos and dedication to protecting the environment and the communities that travelers visit, has just announced its latest effort when it comes to the growing rejection of plastics.
The company has launched a new "no single-use plastics" selection of vacations and itineraries for 2018 and 2019. The unique trips include such options as exploring Puglia, Italy; diving in the Red Sea; sailing in Sardinia and Croatia and visiting an eco-hostel in Lisbon, Portugal.
The new section of the Responsible Travel website includes trips to a long list of countries, everywhere from Greece to Sri Lanka and Seychelles.
For a trip to be offered under the company's new "no single-use plastics" banner, it must meet stringent standards including not having the offending plastics in the accommodations offered as part of the itinerary, or on transportation that's included with the journey. Even the restaurants that are part of the trips must not stock single-use plastics.
The rule also applies to organized activities on the trips. Everything from plastic bags, to plates, wrappers and toiletries has been eliminated.
"As travelers, we see places spoiled by bins overflowing with plastic bottles or rubbish-strewn beaches and oceans," said Justin Francis, CEO and founder of Responsible Travel. "This new collection of trips from us is just a start - there's a lot to be done and many more travel companies who can step up to the plastic-free plate."
The company, which is a match-making service that puts travelers in touch with the world's 400 best specialist tour companies, says it hopes to grow the no single-use plastics trip offerings and is calling on the entire travel industry to pick up the mantle.
"I believe the travel industry has a key role to play and we're already seeing many pledges from travel companies to be plastic free by a certain date," Francis added. "I hope these promises become a reality and that the industry uses its influence to effect change throughout its supply chains and to inspire travelers to act too."
In addition, Francis said destinations need to take steps to implement plastic free initiatives. And he added that travelers themselves have a significant role to play.
"Like all developments in responsible tourism, change will come if we as travelers ask plenty of questions of our travel companies and demand action on this important issue," Francis said.
The effort already appears to be paying off. Examples of single-use plastic-free efforts from Responsible Travel's members include discarding plastic shopping bags and providing guests with cotton shoppers instead; eliminating plastic water bottles in favor of reusable bottles and ditching straws and plastic cutlery.
In Sri Lanka, one operator has begun wrapping food in banana leaves instead of plastic wrap and an Egyptian hotel now offers glass containers of jams and butter at breakfast instead of single-use plastic packages.
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