By
Rebecca Gibson |
Norway-based expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten is to ban all unnecessary single-use plastic from its passenger ships by 2 July 2018 and eventually aims to become the world’s first plastic-free cruise company.
To meet this goal, Hurtigruten will replace plastic straws with metal straws and remove all single-use plastic items such as cutlery, bags, coffee cup lids, toothpicks, aprons, butter packaging and more.
“At Hurtigruten, we have focused on the problem with plastic pollution for years,” said Daniel Skjeldam, Hurtigruten CEO. “There is a lot of talk about the impact plastic has on our oceans. But it’s time to take action. By getting rid of single-use plastic on board all ships already by this summer, we will hopefully get others to follow. It is possible to act now, and the oceans do not deserve more hesitation.”
Hurtigruten’s single-use plastics ban will be effective across its entire fleet of expedition vessels, as well as in the hotels, restaurants and other land-based establishments in Svalbard, Norway that are operated by its fully owned subsidiary Hurtigruten Svalbard. In addition, Hurtigruten is challenging all its suppliers to reduce their use of plastic.
“Plastic pollution is the single biggest threat our oceans,” said Skjeldam. “Hurtigruten operates in some of the most vulnerable areas in the world. This means that we carry a special responsibility to protect these areas for the local population and future generations of explorers. Every year, Hurtigruten guests and employees cleans tons of plastic from beaches in the areas we operate. We witness the plastic pollution problem on a daily basis.”
Hurtigruten’s single use plastic ban comes just a few days after announcing it would work with Rolls-Royce to carry out the largest environmental upgrade in the company’s 125 years of history.