Every year, more than eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the sea. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. The tourism sector also contributes to this. Think of bottles, straws and bags used by tourists. Research has shown that hotel room visitors generate twice as much plastic waste as a normal household in the same region.
At bookdifferent.com we want to make sure that all aspects of your holiday are as sustainable as possible. That is why we took the International Tourism Plastic Pledge to show our commitment to reducing plastic pollution at holiday destinations.
Our partnership with Clean the World
Of course, for us it doesn’t end with signing the plastic pledge and calling it a day. We want to take action! That’s why we’ve partnered with Clean the World to highlight accommodations that take part in reducing plastic pollution.
Clean the World is a social enterprise that works with the hospitality industry to reduce waste and improve health around the world. The organization collects and recycles soap and bottled amenities, that would otherwise be discarded, and gives them new life in the hands of someone in need. Through the recycling and distribution of soap and other hygiene products, Clean the World helps prevent millions of hygiene-related illnesses and deaths each year. As of today, they have diverted over 9 million kilograms of waste from landfills and distributed more than 50 million bars of soap!
With more than 8,000 hotels around the world participating in Clean the World’s Hospitality Recycling Program, it’s easy to find a hotel that works for you and the environment.
How can I book hotels that take part in this initiative?
Just like you are able to filter your search result according to our staygreencheck, you are now able to look for “plastic free hotels”, meaning hotels that take part in Clean the World. This feature is not completely established yet but it will be soon. We feel that it’s important to highlight that Clean the World is not an ecolabel but rather our partner in making your holiday more sustainable.
MORE INFO ABOUT CLEAN THE WORLDThe tourism industry and plastic waste
“If we don’t act now, by 2050 there could be more plastic in the sea than fish.”, the WWF (2018) states. Interested in knowing more about the connection between plastic waste and the tourism industry? Click on the button below for more information.