To celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, Hurtigruten Expeditions, the leader in sustainable cruising, is highlighting how tourism operators and travellers can create a positive impact each and every day.
Damian Perry, Managing Director of Hurtigruten Asia Pacific, says the environment is central to all of Hurtigruten Expeditions’ operations, including banning single-use plastics.
“Keeping our oceans clean is a top priority,” Mr Perry said.
“As a cruise company travelling to the far reaches of the world, we have seen the detrimental effects plastic has had, even in Antarctica. Hurtigruten was the first cruise line to take the step to ban all single-use plastic onboard our ships and instead replace them with alternatives such as biodegradable straws, plates and cutlery.”
Banning single-use plastic
Every minute, 15 metric tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans. If the trend continues, this number will double in the next 10 years and by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish.
Focused on reducing plastic pollution for years
Hurtigruten was the first major travel company to remove single-use plastic from all of its ships, restaurants and hotels. What’s more, the cruise line has constantly improved the way it reduces, recycles and handles waste, and shares everything learned along the way.
Plastic straws have been removed or replaced, and Hurtigruten no longer uses stirrers, or plastic cups 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 500,000 guests and 2,500 employees might normally encounter on a day-to-day basis.
Hurtigruten has removed or replaced plastic packaging with environmentally friendly alternatives made of paper, metal or other biodegradable and sustainable materials. Most importantly, this has led to a huge cut in single-use items altogether.
But the solution to the plastic crisis depends on more than just one company. Hurtigruten actively shares its expertise and engages with guests, allies, competitors, local communities, authorities and anyone else who wants to join in the fight. Hurtigruten has also implemented stricter sustainability demands on suppliers, challenging them to reduce or stop their use of single-use plastic.
What can YOU do? Hurtigruten’s top three tips
- Give up plastic bags; take your own reusable ones to the store.
- Skip straws unless you have medical needs, and even then, you could use paper ones. And while you’re at it, give up plastic plates and cups.
- Pass up plastic bottles; invest in a refillable water bottle.
Hurtigruten Expeditions has a history of over more than 127 years and in more recent decades, Captains and crew, expedition teams and returning guests have witnessed the impact of climate change on vulnerable polar areas. Because of this, sustainability is now at the heart of Hurtigruten’s identity and operations.
