Tourism’s ‘important steps’ to reduce plastic waste

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) has been boosted by 32 new members as hotel chains and tour operators around the globe increase their efforts to reduce waste and pollution. The initiative, which now has 93 companies in the tourism sector, enables businesses, governments and other stakeholders to lead by example in the shift towards a circular economy for plastics.

The 32 new signatories to GTPI include major players such as TUI Group, AC Hotels by Marriott, Palladium Hotel Group, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), Hostelling International, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Visit Valencia. ‘Together we can make important steps towards less unnecessary single-use plastic in the world and shift towards a circular economy,’ comments Andreas Vermöhlen, sustainability manager at TUI Group.

Addressing plastic pollution is essential to sustainably restart tourism, preserve destinations and contribute to climate action, according to Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organsation. ‘We are proud to see the number of signatories growing continuously since the launch of the initiative,’ he told a panel organised by UNWTO and the UN Environment Programme in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Participants included Accor Group, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Palladium, Chumbe Island Coral Park and the SHA.