PLASTIC FREETOOLKIT FOR
TOUR OPERATORSSUSTAINABILITYYOUR GUIDE TO REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTIC

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

1DISCLAIMER
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Single Use Plastic, while the data used were accurate at the time of compilation and subsequent release,some changes due to revisions and/or changes in collection and weighting techniques may have occurredsince publication.
For the latest updates please contact the PATA Sustainability Team directly (ssr@PATA.org).
Copyright Pacific Asia Travel Association, Bangkok 2020
ISBN (e-book): 978-616-93614-6-6
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PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

1CONTENTS
FOREWORD

4

GOAL OF THIS TOOLKIT5PART I: TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

6

UNDERSTAND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM IN TOURISM INDUSTRY

7IMPACT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION ON TOURISM INDUSTRY8TOURISM AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

9

BUSINESS CASE FOR GOING PLASTIC FREE

10PART II: THE PLASTIC TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 1: GET SENIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT

11
13

		

GET APPROVAL AND COMMITMENT FROM SENIOR MANAGEMENT

13		

SET UP A PLASTIC FREE WORKING GROUP

14

STEP 2: CONDUCT A BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF PLASTIC USE

15		

UNDERSTAND THE WASTE HIERARCHY15

		

ASSESS YOUR OPERATIONS16		ASSESS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN

17		

MEASURE AND DEVELOP BASELINE ASSESSMENT

18

		

KNOW THE ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE USE PLASTICS

18

		

IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGES

19

STEP 3: ESTABLISH PERFORMANCE TARGETS

20

STEP 4: DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN

22

		

WHERE TO TAKE ACTIONSSTEP 5: IMPLEMENTATION

23
26

		

CONSIDER A TRIAL ROLLOUT

26

		

PLASTIC FREE PROJECTS IN OPERATIONS

27

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

2

CONTENTS
STEP 6: COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND RAISING AWARENESS		DEVELOP THE MESSAGE

28
28

		ENGAGE STAFF

28

		ENGAGE SUPPLIERS

29

		ENGAGE CUSTOMERS

30

		

31

ENGAGE THE MEDIASTEP 7: MONITOR, EVALUATE AND REPORT32

PLASTIC PROBLEM DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19

33

CONCLUSION

34

PART III: RESOURCES

35

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

3

FOREWORD

At the time of writing this foreword, the Asia Pacific travel
and tourism industry is facing an unprecedented crisis,
COVID-19.
Exacerbating a traumatic human cost, COVID-19 isexponentially impacting the travel and tourism sector.
In the Asia-Pacific region tourism is expected to be mostheavily hit with millions of jobs at risk, representing aloss of billions of dollars.1 Most distressing, the biggest
impacts will be felt in our most vulnerable communities.2
The crisis, despite the pain and anguish, provides anopportunity to Rethink and Recreate our systems andoperations in a more sustainable way.
PATA is leading the way as a trusted advisor across thetravel and tourism industry to inspire innovation for
exponential impacts on the SDGs. PATA’s programmes
build strategic partnerships to support better andmore sustainable destination management to create
measurable and impactful triple-bottom line publicprivate partnership initiatives.

GRAHAM
HARPERPATA DIRECTOR OFSUSTAINABILITY & SOCIALRESPONSIBILITY

The following toolkit is therefore presented to assist
our private sector tour operators to tackle one of ourmost pervasive externalities: the use and managementof problematic single use plastics in tour operations.
However, we do not want to stop there. We very much want
to document your best practices to link to public sector
infrastructure development that support and enhanceindustry initiatives. We do this as:
1.

Local destination capacity to implement
national environmental regulations influences
private sector initiatives

2.

Local destination capacity to support private
sector environmental initiatives influences
private sector investment

3.

Local destination infrastructure capacity
exponentially impacts local populations qualityof-life

PATA is pleased to share this toolkit with our partner
businesses and to learn from your best practices torebuild a sustainable travel and tourism industry with
the infrastructure and capacity to mitigate environmental
impacts.

1
WTTC. (2020). Latest research from WTTC shows a
50% increase in jobs at risk in Travel & Tourism.
2
International Institute for Environment andDevelopment. (2020). Coronavirus threat looms large
for low-income cities.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

Graham Harper
PATA Director of Sustainability & Social Responsibility

4

GOAL OF THIS TOOLKITThis guide is designed to assist tour operators to reduce plastic waste in operations. We recognize there
are many opportunities for tourism to solve the plastic problem but challenges are also present; suchas plastics are too convenient for most people to eliminate, your business wants to focus on othersustainability priorities; or you are not sure where and how to remove and reduce plastics use withinyour business.
Through this toolkit, tour operators will be able to assess current consumption of plastics, consider
different alternatives and decide how your business can reduce your plastics footprint. It is important tokeep in mind that changes from small actions can bring big impacts if being followed and implemented
by many individuals towards achieving the same goals. Every action counts!

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

5

PART I:TOURISM INDUSTRY AND
THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

6

PART I: TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

UNDERSTAND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM
IN TOURISM INDUSTRY
Plastic is everywhere. While it is considered cheap and convenient, we are paying a high price in termsof growing environmental pollution and increasing health problems. According to Plastic Oceans, theworld produces over 300 million tons of plastic every year, half of which is for single use purposes. The
World Economic Forum warns there could be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.
The tourism industry is currently suffering from the consequences of plastic pollution. Plastic waste
decreases the visual attractiveness of destinations, contributes to pollution of soil and water, affects
wildlife and human health negatively. Overall it leads to biodiversity loss. Tourism is not just a victim.
At the same time, it is also a big contributor to the plastic problem due to the large amount of waste
created at destinations through tourism activities.
Without taking radical steps to reduce plastic waste, the industry risks its very existence and thelivelihoods of the 13 million people employed within it3. It is estimated that the future costs of removing
all single use plastics accumulating in the environment is higher than the costs of preventing littering
today4.
It is time for tour operators to take leadership to proactively reduce the use of plastic in the travel andtourism industry.

3

Paradise Lost In The Plastic Tide. Water Witch.

4

World Economic Forum. (2016). The New Plastics Economy Rethinking the future of plastics.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

7

PART I: TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

IMPACT OF PLASTIC POLLUTION
ON THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

WITH

80 %

OF ALL TOURISM
TAKING PLACE IN COASTAL AREAS,

PLASTICPOLLUTION
FROM TOURISM

IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION ALONE,

PLASTIC LITTERMARINE LITTER
INCREASES BY

IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

UP TO

40%

DURING PEAK TOURIST SEASON.

CAN EASILY END UP IN
5
OCEANS AND WATERWAYS.
ABOUT

ALONE COSTS ITS TOURISM,
FISHING AND SHIPPING INDUSTRIES

$1.3

6

BILLIONPER YEAR 7

8.3

OF PLASTIC HAS BEEN PRODUCEDSINCE THE 1950S, THE WEIGHTBILLION OF ABOUTTONNES 1 BILLION
47 MILLIONOR
ELEPHANTS

BLUE WHALESSTUDIES SUGGEST THAT

THE TOTALECONOMICDAMAGE TO THE
WORLD’S MARINEECOSYSTEMCAUSED BY
PLASTIC IS$13

BILLIONEVERY YEAR

8

ONLY

9%
79%

THE REMAINING

OF THIS HAS BEEN

RECYCLED12%

HAS BEEN

BURNED

HAS ENDED UP IN LANDFILLS OR
THE ENVIRONMENT. 10

PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEAN CONTRIBUTES TO
THE DEVALUATION OF WATERFRONT PROPERTIESAND REDUCTION IN VISITORS AND BEACH-GOERS.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MARINE POLLUTION
HAS COST THE ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC
COOPERATION (APEC) REGION$622
MILLION 9

The Impact Of Tourism On Coastal Areas. (2018).
WWF. (2018). The Mediterranean at risk of becoming ‘a sea of plastic’, WWF warns.
7
UNEP. (2018). Single use Plastics A Roadmap for Sustainability.
8
UNEP. (2014). Plastic Waste Causes Financial Damage of US$13 Billion to Marine Ecosystems Each Year as Concern Grows over Microplastics.
9
Paradise Lost In The Plastic Tide. Water Witch.
10
Geyer, R., Jambeck, J., & Law, K. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7).
56PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

8

PART I: TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE PLASTIC PROBLEMQUICK FACTS•

Plastic is forever. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, including theplastics that were incinerated and became toxic particulate matter. Plastic is a material that
the Earth cannot digest.

•

Plastic poisons our food chain. Plastic creates toxic pollution at every stage of its existence:
manufacture, use, and disposal. In the environment, plastic breaks down into small particles
that attract toxic chemicals. These particles are ingested by wildlife on land and in the ocean,contaminating the food chain.

•

Plastic damages human health. Harmful chemicals leached by plastics are present in the
bloodstream and tissues of almost every one of us, including newborns.

•

Disposable plastics are the main source of plastic pollution. Consumption of disposable
plastics bags, bottles, straws, utensils, polystyrene cups, film, food packaging and more has
spiraled out of control. These items are used for seconds, hours or days, but their remains lastforever.

•

On average, one trillion single use plastic bags are used every year and more than half amillion plastic straws are used every day around the world. In 2016, more than 480 billion
plastic bottles were sold worldwide11.

TOURISM AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Plastic waste management has not been well-established in many developing countries, especially in
the Asia Pacific region. Just five countries in Asia are reported to produce as much as 60% of all plastic
waste entering the ocean.12
In order to solve the plastic problems, we need to shift from a traditional throw-away culture to acircular economy, in which all products are kept in use for as long as possible and designed to be reused
and regenerated at the end of each service cycle, so removing waste and litter.13 As a big contributor
to the plastic pollution, the entire tourism sector and supply chain need to make cooperative efforts to
support the transition to a circular economy.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)14 has identified some of the key circular economy solutions forplastics including:•using plastic wastes as a resource•cooperation between businesses and their consumers to encourage recycling and raise thevalue of plastic products•

rethinking of plastic manufacturing processes and products to enhance longevity, reusability
and waste prevention•

developing trustworthy information platforms to scale circular solutions.

Earth Day. (2018). Fact Sheet: How Much Disposable Plastic We Use.
BSR. (2018). What Can Business Do to Prevent Plastic from Becoming Waste in Asia Pacific?.
13
WRAP and the circular economy.
14
Global Environment Facility. (2018). Plastics and the circular economy.
11
12

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

9PART I: TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE PLASTIC PROBLEM

Although circular economy solutions will help in reducing waste and keeping materials out of landfills,
it is important to also minimize demand of plastics and produce only essential plastic products bydiscouraging unnecessary production and use of plastics, and promoting the use of renewable andrecyclable alternatives.

BUSINESS CASE FOR GOING PLASTIC FREE
As part of a sustainability policy, practices of plastic waste reduction can make a direct and positive
impact on a business’s bottom line. Furthermore, not all benefits can be tangible and easily measurable.
Many other benefits can be long-term and go beyond the monetary value to support the businessintrinsic values. It is crucial to come up with a solid business case to justify the decision for going plastic
free.
The key business benefits for a tour operator to go plastic free include:•

Save money and reduce unnecessary costs
Many of the disposable items you are currently using in office or on tours can be eliminatedor replaced with reusable items that will save repurchasing stocks frequently. This results inlower operating costs by reducing resource use and decreasing waste.

•

Increase staff engagement and morale
Staff are more likely to feel proud of working for employers that truly care for social
responsibilities. Tour operators with coherent sustainability policies have an increased
capacity to attract and retain skilled and talented employees.15•

Provide a competitive advantage
A reputation for going plastic free and sustainability adds value to a tour operator’s brand andstrengthens its market position. Recent research has shown a growing trend in the market
of sustainably-minded travelers that consider sustainable practices when making purchasedecisions.16 According to a WTTC and Bloomberg Media Group’s report, a consumer survey
across 60 countries found 66% of consumers said they would be willing to pay more forenvironmentally-friendly products.17•

Improve environmental outcomes
Going plastic free reduces the plastic footprints and contributes to greater performances of thebusiness triple bottom line. For tour operators, the environmental effects can be multiplied byengaging different stakeholders in the supply chain and at destinations.

UNEP. (2005). Integrating sustainability into business: A management guide for responsible tour operators.
Center for Responsible Travel. (2019). The Case for Responsible Travel: Trends & Statistics 2019.
17
WTTC & Bloomberg Media Group. (2019). World, Transformed. Megatrends and their applications for travel & tourism.
15
16

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

10PART II:
THE PLASTIC FREETOOLKIT FOR
TOUR OPERATORS

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

11

THE PLASTIC TOOLKIT FOR
TOUR OPERATORS - 7-STEP PROCESS

1GET SENIORMANAGEMENTCOMMITMENT

2

CONDUCT A BASELINEASSESSMENT OF
PLASTIC USE

3ESTABLISHPERFORMANCETARGETS

4

DEVELOP AN ACTION
PLAN

5IMPLEMENTATION

6COMMUNICATION,
MARKETING ANDRAISING AWARENESS

7

MONITOR,EVALUATE AND
REPORT

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

12

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 1

STEP 1:GET SENIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITMENTGET APPROVAL AND COMMITMENT FROM SENIOR MANAGEMENT
To begin, you first must recognize the need for improvement and commitment to sustainability andplastic waste reduction within your business. Review the current sustainability policy to understandhow plastic waste reduction initiatives can meet other sustainability objectives.

In case your business has not yet developed a corporate sustainability policy, you must
consider writing one. The reasons to have a formal sustainability policy is to integrate all
sustainability efforts and commitments into a single document for unity of purpose and toprovide a clear picture of your sustainability direction to your staff and stakeholders.
To get started, the below resources provide guidelines on how to develop a sustainability
policy:•UNEP. (2005). Integrating Sustainability into Business: An Implementation Guide for
Responsible Tourism Coordinators. (1.2. Write a corporate sustainability policy, pp.
10-11).

•UNWTO & UNEP. (2005). Making Tourism More Sustainable: a Guide for Policy Makers.
(4.1. Developing a sustainable tourism strategy, pp. 60-63)

Examples: Sustainability Policies of Tour Operators at different scales

•
•
•
•
•

Destination Asia’s Sustainability Policy
EXO Travel’s Responsible Travel Policy
Intrepid Group’s Responsible Travel Policy
Village Ways’ Responsible Travel Policy
Wise Steps Travel’s Responsible Travel Policy

Based on the sustainability policy, speak to the responsible departments and your senior manager
to identify how plastic waste reduction can be integrated into your business strategies. Approval andcommitment from senior management is a prerequisite for effecting any changes.
Next, develop a plastic waste reduction policy for your business, either separate from, or, as a part of theexisting sustainability policy. Make sure that your commitment to reduce plastic waste aligns with othersustainability objectives and is included throughout your business strategies. This can be accomplishedthrough a Plastic free Working Group.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

13

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 1SET UP A PLASTIC FREE WORKING GROUPWork with business leaders of different departments to create a working group on plastic reduction
initiatives. Ideally, this working group should include business leaders from all central business units
so that you can get insights from various perspectives to ensure your plans are integrated, feasible, yet
ambitious.
Some tips to craft an effective working group:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Define clear goals for group operation
Assign a group facilitator
Set terms/guidelines for operations
Set clear milestones
Be transparent throughout the process
Monitor and evaluate progress

Case Study: Khiri Reach - The independent, non-profit arm of Khiri Travel
Vision“We wish to leverage our business network throughout the regions we operate in to link
partners, donors and volunteers with NGOs and community service projects, encompassing
matters of concern and finding ways to solve these issues such as plastic pollution,accessible clean water, protecting local flora and fauna or helping less fortunate people of allages and ethnicities.”
Plastic-focused Statement“Khiri Reach wishes to change and find better solutions to the plastic problem througheducational campaigns and setting up projects in the countries we operate in across Asia andthe Pacific. We wish to encourage the use of products made from bio and eco-friendly sourcesthat do no harm to the environment and that can either be reused or are biodegradable in atruthful way.
From saying NO to single use disposable items, teaching correct recycling and separation
techniques, promoting reusable containers and refillable bottle usage, to finding practicalsolutions that not only clean up plastic from the environment but help local people turnit into a financially beneficial resource that can then become part of circular industry thatprevents wastage and maximises profit.”(Source: Khiri Reach)

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

14

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 2

STEP 2:CONDUCT A BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF
PLASTIC USE
You need to assess and understand the current plastic waste management practices within yourbusiness and its impacts in order to identify key plastic problems to address as well as opportunities for
improvements. To do this, establish a baseline as outlined in this section. The baseline also serves tocompare against future achievements (Step 7).

UNDERSTAND THE WASTE HIERARCHYThe key aim of your plastic reduction plan should be to avoid, reduce and reuse plastic waste. Recycling
should only be used after reduce and reuse options have been considered. Keep in mind that recycledplastic is actually downcycled and has little economic value; thus, recycling alone is not the right answer
to the plastic problem. Disposing plastic waste to landfill is the very last resort when all other options do
not work.

MORE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND FINANCIAL BENEFITSPREVENTIONPREVENTION
IS WHERE THERE ARE
THE GREATEST SAVINGSPREPARING FOR REUSEPLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSRECYCLINGOTHERRECOVERYDISPOSALLAST RESORT

15

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 2ASSESS YOUR OPERATIONSStart by looking into the main uses of plastic within your business operations. Target the single use
plastics and the highest volume of plastic first. Be clear on the quantity of plastics items your businesspurchases and how much they cost. Then determine alternatives to these items by working withresponsible departments.
What to assess•

The amount of plastics used in everyday office operations•

The amount of plastics used in your internal/external events•

The amount of plastics used on tours (FITs vs GITs)•

How much of this plastic is recyclable?

•

7 things you didn’t know about plastic and the complicated recycling process•

5 risks to cnsider when starting a new recycling programme•

7 different types of plastics, are they recyclable?, and their alternatives

The main source of single use plastic in office:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Single use cups and plastic lids
Single use cutlery
Straws and stirrers
Plastic shopping bags
Plastic wraps
Styrofoam and plastic take-out containers
Toiletries and hygiene products
Cleaning materials

The main source of single use plastic on tours:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Water and other beverages bottles
Wet tissues
Food wrappers
Plastic shopping bags
Single use coffee cups and plastic lids
Straws and stirrers

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

16

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 2ASSESS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN
You also need to map your supply chain to understand where the plastics often come from and which
suppliers tend to produce and use the largest number of plastic items. Tourism supply chain often
includes:

•
•
•
•
•

Transportation sector: transport to and from destinations and ground transports
Accommodation sector
Food & beverages and catering sector
Attractions and excursion providers
Other associated sectors such as handicrafts, gift shops, etc.

Once you can identify where the impact of plastic is the most adverse, assess your suppliers’ current
performance on plastic waste reduction to generate data for providing a baseline to measure future
progress. Keep in mind that you can always speak to your suppliers about the opportunities to reduce
unnecessary packaging and ask them to help with sourcing alternatives.
Since you may not have enough time and resources to assess all suppliers, select a sample of suppliers
to involve in the assessment. Consider prioritizing certain suppliers based on your ability to influencethem and the ease of addressing plastic waste impacts in their operations. Use questionnaires or
have meetings with these selected suppliers to assess their current plastic use and plastic waste
management practices. Try to understand their levels of awareness about plastic problems as wellas their capacity and willingness to engage in plastic waste reduction initiatives. It is also important
to know their motives and values as well as any potential barriers to reducing plastics waste in theiroperations.
10 Questions to ask your suppliers:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Does your business have an official sustainability policy?
What are the main environmental challenges and opportunities for your business?
Do you prefer suppliers that implement responsible practices during the selection process?
Do you have any policies or initiatives regarding plastic use reduction?
Do you have any reduction targets on plastic use?
How do you manage plastic waste?
Do you measure and record the use of plastic within your business?
Do you use any alternatives to single use plastic products?
Do you have any recycling schemes within your business?
Are you interested in cooperating in a joint project to reduce plastic use?

Case Study: Six Senses Hotels Resorts SpasSix Senses Hotels Resorts Spas have set bold targets to be plastic free by 2022. Eliminationof single use and disposable plastic has been identified as top priority. The group ultimately
aims to “carefully reduce exposure to plastics for guests and communities”.
They have also taken strong action in requesting suppliers to reduce plastic packaging or use
biodegradable paper instead of plastic. Six Senses prioritize working locally and with nearby
communities to reduce the impact on the environment, especially for products that mustotherwise travel long distances to their locations.
Sources: Six Senses Sustainability, International Luxury Travel Market

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

17

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 2MEASURE AND DEVELOP A BASELINE ASSESSMENT
After assessing single use plastics used in your operations and supply chain, compile the corresponding
quantities and costs of each item on a monthly or annual basis. Where is not readily available data,
estimate from historic data and request suppliers to provide more information.

Download our Table for Baseline Assessment from Plastic free spreadsheet.

KNOW THE ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE USE PLASTICS
Do research to review alternatives based on the level of impact of different plastic items. Prioritize viable
alternatives that can be locally sourced.

Download our Table for Assessment of Alternatives to single use plastic from Plastic free spreadsheet.
At first glance, you can:Replace plastic bags with:• cloth bags
• paper bags
• cardboard boxes
Replace straws with:• paper, bamboo or metal straws
Replace plastic bottles with:• refill stations or water fountains• fountain machines• pitchers (for bulk liquids)• reusable water bottles
Replace plastic plates, bowls & to-go containers with:• compostable boxes• beeswax paper for wrapping food• glass jars

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

18

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS•STEP 2

reusable dishware made out of ceramic, harder plastics, or stainless steel

Replace single use plastic cutlery with:• compostable forks, spoons, knives• reusable spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks• reusable containers with lids for catering type events
Note: PATA has compiled a list of alternatives as an available resource in Plastic free Spreadsheet.

IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGES
Now that you have been able to identify the major plastic problems within your business and learn
about different alternatives, sit down with your working group to:

•
•
•
•

Identify the ‘quick wins’ – items that can be easily and quickly eliminated and replaced
Identify which items are more difficult or require more resources
Work with selected suppliers to discuss and negotiate a timeline for change
Search for new technology and alternative suppliers where current suppliers may not be able
to meet the commitment.

To assist you may want to adapt sections 1.2 and 1.3 of Sustainable Cultures Engagement Toolkit toidentify the opportunities for change.

These activities can help evaluate current initiatives and policies to better understand current andfuture opportunities through the grid with 4 quadrants where an initiative would fit: i) easy win, ii)
company investment, iii) employee investment, iv) matched effort. We strongly suggest looking at both“successful” and “unsuccessful” plastic free initiatives.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

19

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 3

STEP 3:ESTABLISH PERFORMANCE TARGETS
In order to reduce plastic use, specific targets must be set based on the findings of the earlier baseline
review. Targets specify how far you want to go by quantifying the level of improvement to be achieved.
Targets should be set for both short and long term and consistent with the business’s sustainability
policy. It is important to make your targets S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic andTime-bound).

•Specific - What do you want to achieve? State clearly and precisely what is required•

Measurable - How do you know if you have reached your target? Identify the indicator of yourprogress•

Achievable - Are the objectives and targets attainable with the time and resources you have?

•

Realistic - Are your objectives and targets achievable and not too ambitious? Focus on
outcomes.

•

Time-bound: Do you break down your objectives and targets into timely steps? Include a dateby which the outcome must be achieved.

Guidelines on how to set performance targets:• Business Gateaway: Setting targets and key performance indicators• UNCTAD: Targets and Indicators• Impact Sustainability: Guide to setting a sustainability performance target

Example:Objective 1: Eliminate all single use plastics in office and on group tours by 2022
Target 1: Eliminate 100% single use plastics in office operations by end of June 2020.
Target 2: Replace 100% plastic water bottles on group tours with refillable options by
30 December 2020.
Target 3: Stop distributing wet tissues on group tours after 1 May 2020.
Objective 2: Increase awareness of staff about plastic reduction
Target 1: Provide plastic reduction training for 100% full-time tour leaders and tour
guides by 30 August 2020.
Target 2: Provide plastic reduction training for 100% full-time sales staff by
30 September 2020.
Target 3: Organize an office challenge on reducing plastic use by 30 October 2020.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

20

PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 3

Targets should be established with inputs from all departments and approved by top management.
They should also be communicated to all internal and external stakeholders that will be affected bythem. Set concrete and ambitious targets for the plastic waste reduction, especially the single use
plastics.
One tip for setting targets is to identify some of the best practices of industry leaders and benchmarking
against these practices. Based on this and considering available resources, you can set ambitious but
still achievable targets to bring your operations in line with successful practices.

Where to find the best plastic reduction practices in tourism industry:

•
•
•
•

One Planet Network: The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative - Case Studies
World Wide Fund: Plastic Smart Cities Initiative - Best Practices
Earth Day: End Plastic Pollution - Global Efforts to Curb Single use Plastics
Travel Without Plastic: Insight and advice on minimising single use plastics in thetravel and tourism sector

When establishing targets, tour operators should consider:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Requirements under existing environmental legislation
Level of environmental impacts
Technological availability
Budget availability
Operational requirements
Views of interested parties

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 4

STEP 4:
DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN
Once you have established S.M.A.R.T. targets they need to be elaborated into an action plan. The action
plan addresses a wide range of short-term and long-term measures to prevent and reduce plastic use.
Consider which actions to take that align with the set targets:•

Avoid and reduce the use of unnecessary and single use plastics•

Use essential plastic products with the longest possible life cycle•

Consider alternatives to plastics (refer to Step 2)•

Recycle as much plastics as possible. Make sure the recycling plastics have high values.

•

Improve plastic waste management practices•

Clean up local destinations that have been severely polluted by plastics•

Knowledge and information sharing and collaboration

Once the targets and actions have been synchronized, they can be summarized in a table that will guidethe implementation process.
Download our Template for Action Plan from Plastic free spreadsheet.
While developing your action plan, take into consideration the following questions to help you decide if
it is realistically achievable or not:•Consider the scope of your action. Can this be scaled up? Can this be scaled down?

•

Who is your target audience? Who needs to change their behavior or mindset in order forchange to happen?

•

Who are the key stakeholders to be involved?

•

How should you break down action and assign to staff accordingly?

•

Is the allocated budget sufficient to implement?

•

What are the resources (time, funds, potential collaborations, alternatives, people, materials,
equipment) available to this project?

•

Are there any risks related to the project? Be prepared for any doubts, concerns or
disapprovals.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 4

WHERE TO TAKE ACTIONSThere are many opportunities for Tour Operators to reduce their plastic footprint. Make sure that you arelooking through all different action areas of your business to bring changes. Here are some suggestions
based on the 5 key areas of tour operators’ business:

•

•

•

Internal office operations•

Eliminate single use plastic and replace with compostable or reusable options•

Provide refill water station•

Request for plastic free internal and external events•

Facilitate and build a culture for reducing the use of plastic and disposable products
among staff. Communicate frequently to engage and get staff’s feedback.

•

Include requirements for avoidance of single use plastic products in new procurement•

Encourage purchase of more sustainable plastic products that can be reused, recycled,
repaired or repurposed•

Place recycle bins in office•

Put visual signs around the office on reducing plastics use

Product development: integrating plastic reduction initiatives in the development andoperations of tours and itineraries•

Create plastic free itineraries and tour options•

Provide reusable water bottles option on tours•

Set up refill water station instead of single use plastic water bottles on selected tours•

Stop distributing wet tissues on tours or replace wet tissues with compostable ones•

Provide reusable lunch/dinner boxes or take advantage of natural materials to wrap foodon tours

Supply chain management: supporting and motivating existing suppliers and business
partners to reduce plastic use•

Have conversations with key selected suppliers to phase out the use of unnecessary,
single use plastic•

Share case studies and best practices•

Encourage partnering hotels and restaurants to offer filtered water in glass bottles•

Encourage partnering hotels to eliminating single use toiletries and offer bar soap or
liquid soap and shampoo in dispensers•

Support industry standardization on plastic reduction

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS•••STEP 4

Source locally, shorter supply chain results in less resources required, so less plastic
packaging and waste

Customer engagement: creating awareness and responsible choices for customers regarding
plastic use (further details in Step 6)•

Communicate proactively with customers about your commitment with reducing plastic use•

Promote plastic free travel style through different communication channels•

Increase efforts to change the behaviour of customers•

Offer reusable cloth bags to travelers for shopping

Cooperation with destinations: supporting stakeholders at destinations to address theplastic problems•

Organize or join in clean-up activities at the beach, river, etc.

•

Support or cooperate with plastic solution platforms to reduce plastic waste indestinations that you operate in•Fund for research or plastic reduction projects (infrastructure projects, educational
projects, raising awareness campaign etc.) at local destinations

Case Study: Discova’s initiatives on fighting against single use plastics
Discova Travel is committed to reducing their plastic footprint whilst maintaining the highest
level of well-being for travelers. They have developed and implemented many initiatives of
replacing single use plastics with environmentally friendly alternatives.
Reusable Water Bottles
Discova Travel offers the option of refilling reusable bottles instead of providing disposable
water bottles in many destinations. They are also working with suppliers to expand thisinitiative to all group tours.
More information about this initiative can be found at One Planet Network.
Pure Napkins
Instead of traditional plastic wrapped wet wipes, Discova offers a 100% biodegradable
alternative with the Pure Napkin initiative. These bamboo-based non-toxic napkins are
extremely compressed and expand upon contact with water. They will be moistened withhypoallergenic natural essences instead of alcohol-based solutions.
More information can be found at: https://www.discova.com/actions-speak-louder-thanwords

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 4

Case Study: Khiri Travel Myanmar - Partnership with Bagan Plastic Campaign
Plastic problem is one of the key focuses of Khiri Travel. They aim to find better solutions to
the plastic problem through educational campaigns and setting up plastic reduction projects
on operating countries across Asia Pacific.
Khiri Travel Myanmar is partnering with the Bagan Plastic Campaign to clean up plastics in
Myanmar by cleaning, collecting and implementing community awareness campaigns andengaging locals to participate in the activities. The project also aims to educate the locals
on how to reduce consumption and dispose of plastics in a way that does not harm theenvironment.
Khiri Travel Myanmar identified the needs for more frequent clean-ups and started a new
initiative of calling for USD 1 donation from each client that participates in the “This is Bagan
Excursion” and setting up a fund that is used to hire 4 locals as full-time garbage collectors.
These full-time staff are responsible for cleaning on weekdays; on every Saturday, foreigners
and local volunteers also join the clean-ups.
More information can be found at:https://www.khirireach.org/projects/bagan-plastic-campaign

Case Study: EXO Travel - Providing refillable bottles & supporting“Refill My Bottle” Initiative
EXO Travel is offering refillable bottles to travelers and is helping to promote water fountains
in its destinations. Through their non-profit arm EXO Foundation, they are supportingthe “Refill My Bottle” initiative, which aims at tackling plastic pollution by reducing theconsumption of plastic water bottles and preventing waste from being generated in the firstplace. Tourism businesses, hotels, restaurants, cafes etc. can sign up to provide refill water
stations for travelers and locals.
“Refill My Bottle” mobile application is now displaying more than 2,600 refill stations in Asiaand is partnering with Refill Not Landfill and other local networks. It allows people to findwhere they can refill their water bottles and also count how many bottles and money they
have saved.
More information can be found at:https://exofoundation.org/refill-my-bottle-app/

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 5

STEP 5:IMPLEMENTATIONSIDE NOTE
As you put your plan into action, it is vital to remember thatthe overall goal is to reduce waste! Don’t fall into the trap ofremoving plastic and increasing other waste.

To implement, responsibilities should be allocated at operational level. All relevant departmentsthat are involved need to plan carefully different tasks and allocate adequate resources. With senior
management support and clear communication in advance, you should get full cooperation of
department managers and staff. Keep in mind that a clear timeline is crucial as some of the tasks mayneed to be finished before others can happen.
Implementing an action plan will include the following steps:•

Decide people-in-charge and get their ‘buy-in’ to the process, as well as their suggestions on how
best to complete the tasks•

Communicate the plan to others who will be involved in or affected, and make changes based on
their feedback•

Allocate necessary budget and resources to each task•

Decide on a timeframe for the tasks.

CONSIDER A TRIAL ROLLOUT
You might want to roll out a trial of plastic waste reduction initiatives, especially with those that involve
customer participation. While pursuing the goal of becoming environmentally-friendly, you do not wantto complicate your operations and get negative feedback from customers due to the changes in favor ofless plastic.
Choose agencies and suppliers that you have good partnership with, who are also keen on taking
sustainable initiatives to cooperate on running a plastic waste reduction project together. The trial
allows you to get feedback from participants and troubleshoot unforeseen problems for further
improvements before launching on a larger scale.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 5

PLASTIC FREE PROJECTS IN OPERATIONS
Implementing plastic free projects may seem to be easier said than done. During operations, there
might be lots of tweaks and hassles that you do not expect. To minimise these operational challenges,
it is important to have a clear method and know what you want to achieve. Remember, you cannot
manage what you cannot measure!
Some notes for successful implementation:•

Break down into phases and constantly monitor the progress•

Ensure all relevant departments, suppliers and business partners are informed and aware ofwhat needs to be done•

Be clear on methods and deliverables of your plastic free projects
Example: If you want to reduce the use of plastic water bottles on tours,•

Do you want to stop distributing plastic water bottles for guests? Or do you want toprovide them with an option of refillable water bottles?

•

How do you select the suppliers that will produce your branded refillable bottles?

•

Where do you want to set up the water refill stations? How do you convince yoursuppliers to collaborate and set this up?

•

How do you keep water cool for refill during hot days?

•

How do you ensure the sanitation and hygiene of the refill station?

•

How do you manage the use of refillable water bottles to ensure guests will not leavethem behind as waste once they leave the destination?

•

Make sure that your tour guides, leaders and drivers act as role models. If you want to launch arefillable water initiative, they should also have their own refillable bottle.

•

Research extensively any alternatives to plastics to ensure you are not creating more wastes byreducing plastics.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 6

STEP 6:
COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND RAISING
AWARENESSDEVELOP THE MESSAGE
For effective awareness creation and behavior change, it is crucial to tailor your message to different
targeted audiences. Keep the message simple, concise and focused on why the change is relevant andimportant. Work with the Marketing Department for detailed internal and external communicationplans. Keep in mind that it is important to communicate in a way that people will listen. So, work on
an elevator pitch, develop strong call to action, craft your message well and integrate awesome visualcontent into your message.

ENGAGE STAFF
Obtaining and maintaining staff buy-in is essential for reducing plastic waste in your office. Make surethat all staff is involved, this makes the implementation of plastic waste reduction much easier.
Staff training is a key factor to the success of running any sustainability initiatives. This includes
presentations, meetings and workshops with Q&A sessions on the initiative for members frommultiple relevant departments. Include and emphasize the importance of plastic reduction in all yoursustainability materials for staff training.
Frontline staff including tour guides, tour leaders, drivers, airport representatives, salespeople etc. whohave direct communication with customers should be given hands-on training from the beginning. Make
sure they understand the message and are able to communicate the right message to customers.
Some tips for effective internal communication:•

Create and communicate positive, action-focused messages. The messages should focus on thepositive impact of every small action. You can propose a list of possible plastic reduction actions
that the staff can choose to implement, this gives them a sense of ownership over their decisions.
But do not just tell people what to do. Make sure to include encouraging messages and have areward scheme for achievement.

•

Be clear, make it simple and fun. Most staff are happy to do the right thing as long as they knowwhat is expected from them.

•

Be interactive and provide channels for feedback. Organize an office challenge to engage all staff. A
little competition will help boost participation.

•

Use signage, posters and other visual aids that provide clear, interesting and consistent messages
on plastic waste reduction in the office.

•Use communication platforms that most staff will favor. Send updates and interesting facts throughselective and occasional emails, reminders, newsletters, intranet etc. but make sure you are notflooding your staff with too many emails and messages.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 6ENGAGE SUPPLIERS
The goal of engaging with suppliers is to develop a shared mindset about plastic waste reduction andpotentially cut down on plastic waste that enters your business. Convincing your supplier or business
partners to join in might be challenging as it depends on their capacities and resources, expertise andespecially financial availability.
Craft a clear and concise message to communicate your expectations to your targeted suppliers. If
your business already has a code of conduct for your suppliers, it should be updated to include yourcommitment to reducing plastic use and be communicated with relevant suppliers. Have open talkwith your suppliers about plastic waste issues to get their opinions/feedback and you can come up withsolutions together.

Example Letter to Suppliers and Business Partners“At (name of your business), we believe that protecting the environment we are living in is
important. Therefore, we take priority in making our tourism products and services moreenvironmentally sustainable. We can only do that with your help.
We notice a growing concern around single use plastic pollution and its impacts upon
destinations. Bans on single use plastic are increasing around the world and the tourism
industry will need to address this. Recently, many players in the sector have been taking
initiatives to reduce plastic use within their business and across the tourism supply chain.
We have also joined forces and started taking actions on reducing our plastic footprint on theenvironment.
Considering our long-term and close partnership, your contribution is critical to make ourbusinesses and co-operations more sustainable. To help you get inspired, we would liketo share information about some solutions for common single use plastics [as separate
attachment].
We hope you can join us in this battle against plastics. We look forward to discussing further
on seeking solutions together.
Best Regards,”[insert your signature]

Sharing best practices and case studies from successful suppliers (refer to Step 3 for where to find thebest practices) can be an effective way to transfer knowledge across the supply chain and inspire others.
By sharing the success stories of selected suppliers, you do not only recognize their efforts but also
showcase the practical benefits of plastic waste reduction initiatives to others in the supply chain.
You should also consider an incentive scheme to motivate suppliers to take action on plastic waste
reduction. Suppliers may be more likely to join the initiative if they know that they will be recognized
and rewarded by tour operators.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 6

Some suggestions for incentivizing suppliers:

•
•
•
•

Preferential contracting for suppliers commiting to reducing plastic use
Promotional opportunities in marketing materials and on websites
Communication about the achievements of successful suppliers with others in the supply chain
Promotion of suppliers for good practices at destination level

ENGAGE CUSTOMERS
Craft a message that is positive, action-driven and emphasizes on making customers feel unique andspecial from participating in such an environmental campaign. Consider to include the following
themes:•How they can contribute to plastic reduction actions that in-destination tour operators andsuppliers are already taking•

How their actions as individuals can contribute to solve the plastic problem at destinations•

Provide general tips on behavior changes to prevent and reduce the use of plastic products.
Many travelers are unaware of responsible options when they are in another country, so it is up
to the tour operators and destinations to show them how they can be a part of the solution.

Some tips for effective communication with customers:•

Communicate clearly the goals and objectives you’re trying to achieve.

•

Frontline staff who have direct contact with customers should be able to communicate theright message and be sensitive about when to communicate and which kind of customers
would resonate with such a message.

•

Explicitly explain their role (and how important they are) in achieving success•

Make it simple and fun•

Include the message in booking documents to customers(eg: booking confirmation, vouchers, feedback etc.)•

Get personal with an emotional touch. Create a plastic reduction story and how important it isfor you, for your business and for customers.
(eg: this work is to protect the planet for our grandchildren / future generations)•

Provide motivation for customers to join you(eg: saving money in the long term)•

Think of ways to make participating as pain-free and convenient as possible(eg: provide refillable bottles in destinations so that clients do not need to bring their own)•

Take maximum advantage of social media platforms(eg: positive-framing messages, memorable and viral videos, photo contests, easily shareable
infographics etc.)•

Be transparent about progress and keep the customers informed

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 6

It’s also important that tour operators assess customers’ level of satisfaction with the change andprovide customers opportunities to give feedback on environmental aspects of their holidays. The
voices of customers can be powerful to encourage in-destination stakeholders to take stronger
measures on plastic waste reduction.

ENGAGE THE MEDIA
The media is a very effective way to get your plastic reduction initiatives out there to a much wider
audience. The massive coverage can leverage your business reputation and image in the market, help
reach out to more customers and increase public awareness on plastic reduction.
You should focus on both business-to-business and business-to-customer approaches to target different
audiences. Send out press releases, offer interview opportunities with top managers and get featured onwell-known tourism media platforms to spread your good practices across the industry and to potential
customers.
Keep in mind that local-based media is easier to reach and often more interested in the issue if there is alocal touch to your story. Therefore, consider how your initiative can fit in the local context and offer the
media stories that are interesting for their target audience.
Some tips to increase your visibility with the media:•

Be part of a larger, global movement(eg: Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, Break Free From Plastics)•

Collaborate with influencers for high quality user-generated content•

Participate in a local event and/or be part of public events at destination to increase thevisibility of your business’s initiative(eg: Beach cleaning event, etc.)•

Support the work of NGOs or researchers on plastic waste reduction to reaffirm yourcommitment with tackling the plastic problem

As you communicate please remember to update PATA on your progress. PATA has an extensive media
network and happily publishes member’s sustainability initiatives to add voice to your efforts.
For more information please visit: https://www.pata.org/pata-sustainability-matters-news-feature/

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSSTEP 7

STEP 7:
MONITOR, EVALUATE AND REPORT
It is important to keep monitoring throughout the process to make adjustments as required. Based on
the set timeline, the working group should meet and evaluate whether you actually achieved the targets
you set out to accomplish. Evaluation allows you to reflect and assess the most successful aspects,
lessons learnt and think about future improvements.
Be open-minded and be prepared that the evaluation may tell a very different story from what you
anticipate. If applicable, you should always consider using a mix of both quantitative and qualitative
approaches to assess the impacts of your initiatives.

•

Quantitative Approach: Measuring the amount of single use plastic that has been eliminated,
reduced and replaced with alternatives. Have a look back at the baseline assessment, calculate
and compare the single use plastic purchase cost and the amount of plastic consumed permonth before and after the implementation.

•

Qualitative Approach: Assessing the level of awareness on single use plastic issues of yourstaff, suppliers and customers. It is always challenging to “measure” how human mindset andbehaviors have changed. Asking the target audience for feedback via feedback form, surveys or
opinion polls can help you measure knowledge and the change in their awareness and attitude
towards plastic problems.

Based on your evaluation, prepare a report on your plastic reduction initiatives either separate from or
as a part of the overall sustainability report. The report is an important tool to communicate with the
public as well as with relevant stakeholders about the results of your actions. External reporting also
increases transparency and credibility, improves reputation and adds value to your business.

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

PLASTIC PROBLEM DURING THE TIME OF COVID-19
Covid-19 has caused the surge in the use of single use plastic for hygienic and safety reasons. Gloves, facemasks and personal protective equipment all contain plastic components. Demand for products suchas disposable wipes, cleaning agents and hand sanitizers is now at a record high. As people are under
lockdown and working from home, takeaways and food deliveries have soared, which has resulted in
the resurgence of plastic food containers and cutlery. In Thailand, TPBI, the leading plastic packaging
producer, reported that sales volume of plastic bags and e-commerce packaging has increased 40-50%
since March, with a 10% increase in the food-packing category.18
To prevent cross-contamination and spread of the virus, single use items are being used more and more.
However, there is no clear scientific evidence that single use plastic is more hygienic than reusable ones. In
fact, research has found that coronaviruses can stay on plastic surfaces for as long as 2 to 3 days, which is much
longer than other materials such as cardboard or copper.19 At the same time, plummeting oil prices globally
have led to a dramatic decrease in the value of plastics, and recycling may not remain an economically viableoption. The increased plastic use in healthcare results in large volumes of waste being unfit for recycling due topotential biohazards. The disruption in the waste management and recycling sector will take time to recoverand not be able to effectively handle massive volumes of post-pandemic plastic.20
As we do not have all the answers to the Covid-19 pandemic yet, it will be impossible to avoid all the single
use plastic in this circumstance. However, it is important to discuss a circular solution so that these plastics
will become a useful resource and not waste.
As tourism restarts, tour operators need to ensure safety as top priority for their guests by adopting,communicating and highlighting scientific-based disinfection procedures and protective measures.
Unfortunately, we feel the health concerns will likely outgrow the environmental care. Tour operatorsneed to rethink hygiene and safety standards to align with their sustainability agenda and minimize theenvironmental impact. With all the progress that has been made so far against single use plastic use, it
is not a time to go backward but to learn, bounce back and move forward a better future of plastic freeeconomies. Once people return to using plastic items, the practice becomes normalized again and it will beeven more challenging to break the habits later on.

What we learned fromthis crisis so far is thatsustainability will be morethan ever at the heart of ourindustry and it will be a key toour successful recovery.

“– EXO Travel“

We are constantly working on making our offices andoperations 100% plastic free. We are currently looking
into foodie tours and how we can reduce the use of
single use plastic items. We will continue to promote
regional initiatives and work together with the tourism
industry to raise awareness and support change.

– Khiri Travel“

We are always open to exploring new projects
or ways or reducing plastics on our tour. I thinksomething that many of us are concerned about is thevolume of PPE on tour, once travel re-starts. Bit of aconcern, no doubt. I think at this point though we are
not really planning on new projects – only focusing on
how we can maximize our current projects– Discova
Mahavongtrakul, M. (2020). Plastic panic.
Greenpeace. (2020). Industry should not exploit COVID-19 to push more plastic pollution.
20
World Economic Forum. (2020). COVID-19 is forcing us to rethink our plastic problem.

“

Once travel restarts, we plan
to continue developing ourplastic free initiatives, by
driving even more positivechange in our supply chain
and supporting innovative
projects in this direction.

“

“

18
19

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PART II: THE PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORSCONCLUSION
Reducing plastic is a tough challenge for all individuals, businesses and organizations. There are no
immediate solutions to the plastic problem but as tour operators, you have the power to influencechanges on a large and diversified group including your staff, suppliers and travellers.
We appreciate you using this toolkit and hope you get inspired while obtaining useful information foryour operations to be plastic free.
We invite you to share your success stories by contacting us at ssr@pata.org.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

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PART III:RESOURCES

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

35

PART III: RESOURCESRESOURCESDOWNLOAD & MAKE A COPY OF OUR PLASTIC FREE SPREADSHEETS.

PLASTIC WASTE FACT SHEETS•••By Earth Day
By European Commission
By UN Environment

PLASTIC FREE INFOGRAPHICS•••

By Less Plastic UK
Recycling for Travellers by Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Make Holidays Greener

GLOBAL PLASTIC INITIATIVES•Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites the tourism sector to address the plastic problem
and encourages tourism stakeholders to take actions.

•

Break Free From Plastic, a global movement that pushes for massive reductions in single use
plastics and lasting solutions to plastic problems.

•Clean Seas, a UN Environment Programme’s initiative to fight against marine plastic pollution,
targeting single use plastics.

•

Plastic Free July works as a global challenge to reduce plastic waste for all.

•

Plastic Pollution Coalition works towards a world free of plastic pollution as a global allianceof individuals, organizations, businesses, and policymakers.

•

Plastic Smart Cities shares knowledge and best practices on tackling plastic problems forcities and tourist destinations.

•

Travel Without Plastic provides practical and cost-effective solutions to reducing single use
plastics in tourism accommodations.

•

Travelers Against Plastic educates global travelers about the harmful impacts of using
disposable plastics and therefore encourage them to travel responsibly.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

36

PART III: RESOURCES

PLASTIC SOLUTION PLATFORMS•

Clean Up the World support with planning and organizing various activities to clean up andconserve the environment•

My Little Plastic Footprint, an app that helps you reduce your plastic consumption by goingon a plastic diet.

•Refill My Bottle, an online map that shows nearby locations where you can refill your waterbottles to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles.
rePurpose provides a plastic credit platform for businesses to turn plastic neutral.

••

PlasticTwist, an EU funded project that serves as an open platform for plastic lifecycle
awareness and to revalue recycled plastic using blockchain technology.

•

Zero Waste Living Lab works on business models that eliminate single use plastics to reduce
plastic pollution in Indonesia and beyond.

FURTHER READINGS•Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). What Can Business Do to Prevent Plastic fromBecoming Waste in Asia Pacific?

•

Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the future of plastics &catalysing actions.

•

European Commission. Best Environmental Management Practices in the Tourism Sector.

•

National Geographic. A running list of action on plastic pollution.

•

Surfers Against Sewage. Plastic Toolkit for Businesses.

•

UNEP. Integrating sustainability into business: A management guide for responsible Tour
Operations.

•

UNEP. Single use plastic: A roadmap for sustainability.

•

UN Global Compact & BSR. Supply Chain Sustainability: A practical guide for continuous
improvement.

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

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PART III: RESOURCES

VIDEOS•

UNEP “Plastic Break-Up” (4 minutes)•

UNEP “Plastic Ocean” (7 minutes)•

TED-Ed “What really happens to the plastic you throw away” (4 minutes)•

TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch “The economic injustice of plastic” (12 minutes)•

PATA Spotlight Webinar “5 Key Ingredients to Reducing Plastic” with Plastic Free Southeast
Asia (1 hour)

PLASTIC FREE TOOLKIT FOR TOUR OPERATORS

38

PATA PREMIER PARTNER

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Email: china@PATAchina.org

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Email: europe@PATA.org

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