Make Holidays Greener campaign launches today

‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ is the theme of this year’s Make Holidays Greener campaign.

Launching today and running until the end of September, the campaign hopes to encourage holidaymakers and travel companies to~have a more positive social and environmental impact when they go on holiday.

In conjunction with Travelife for Accommodation, it urges travel companies to get involved in a number of ways, from improving recycling in resorts, reducing food waste, finding credible alternatives for single-use plastics or inviting customers in resort to take part in beach clean-ups and other initiatives.

A campaign support pack is available and includes tips on how to engage customers.

Travel companies who haven’t received it can contact [email protected] to sign up and request one.

Holidaymakers can also make a pledge to help make their holiday more sustainable.

There are 15 pledges covering all aspects of a holiday, from buying local goods to using local transport (see full list below).

Nikki White, ABTA’s director of destinations and sustainability, said: "This year’s campaign theme ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ highlights how holidaymakers and travel companies can each play their part in reducing their environmental impact.

"Whether it’s lending out holiday guides or inflatables to others at the end of a trip or carrying reusable water bottles and bags, there are a number of ways holidaymakers can make a real difference and our campaign provides the guidance they need to help their chosen destination continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

"Travel companies are also encouraged to make their customers aware of the campaign and may even consider creating their own activity, such as organising a clean-up operation for staff and customers to keep beaches, parks or neighbourhoods clean."

The pledges are:
1.Reduce, reuse and recycle
2.Organise a holiday clean up
3.Look for the Travelife logo – stay at a hotel that demonstrates care for the environment and its staff
4. Respect animals
5.Eat local produce and buy local goods
6. Go meat free
7.Protect biodiversity
8. Respect local customs and talk to locals in their languages
9. Protect children – support local community projects and refrain from giving money to begging children or visiting orphanages
10. Use local transport
11. Switch off electrical devices in your accommodation when you’re not using them
12. Reduce or offset your journey footprint
13. Save water – reuse towels and take shorter showers
14. Tell the world – tell the world about your positive holiday experiences
15. Free choice – the chance to organise or suggest an activity specific to your holiday

For travel companies looking for further guidance on how to implement sustainable approaches across their business, ABTA is holding a ‘Delivering Sustainable Travel’ seminar on June 18 with practical and up to date guidance. For more information or to sign up please visit abta.com/events.