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Hurtigruten to ban single-use plastic this summer
Hurtigruten has announced a ban on all unnecessary single-use plastic by July 2 2018.
The operator wants to become the world’s first plastic-free cruise company and everything from plastic straws, drink mixers, plastic glasses, coffee lids and plastic bags will be removed from all Hurtigruten ships in two months’ time.
The cruise line says its annual consumption of straws in bars and restaurants amounts to 960,000 pieces, or 2,800kg.
In addition, 390,000 plastic glasses are used as are 826,000 pieces of single-use packages of butter.
CEO Daniel Skjeldam said: "At Hurtigruten, we have focused on the problem with plastic pollution for years.
"There is a lot of talk about the impact plastic has on our oceans. But it’s time to take action.
"By getting rid of single-use plastic on board all ships already by this summer, we will hopefully get others to follow. It is possible to act now, and the oceans do not deserve more hesitation."
Plastic straws will be replaced by metal straws and stir pins will no longer be used.
The same goes for glasses wrapped in plastic, plastic cutlery, plastic bags, plastic lids on coffee cups, plastic toothpicks, plastic aprons, single-use packaging of butter and all other single-use plastic items that Hurtigruten’s 400,000 guests and 2,500 employees encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Hurtigruten is also challenging its suppliers to reduce and cut the use of plastic.
"No one can win the war on plastic alone without allies," Skjeldam added.
Hurtigruten’s single use plastic ban comes just a few days after announcing the largest environmental upgrade in the company’s 125 years of history, with up to nine of Hurtigruten’s ships being retrofitted to LNG- and battery propulsion.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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