Royal Caribbean makes plastic pledge
Royal Caribbean Cruises has pledged that the 50 ships across its brands will be free of plastic straws by 2019.
For more than a year, ships in its fleet have been implementing a ‘straws upon request’ policy to cut down on usage.
It says this programme will be taken a step further by the start of next year, when guests requesting a straw will receive a paper straw instead of a plastic one.
Guests will also begin seeing Forrest Stewardship Council-certified wood coffee stirrers and bamboo garnish picks as part of the cruise giant’s plastic reduction strategy.
After straws, stirrers and picks, the company’s focus will turn to other single-use plastics such as condiment packets, cups, and bags.
It said a full plastics audit is underway, with the overall plan to be completed in phases by 2020.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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