Tourexpi
TUI Group has further reduced the amount of single-use
plastic used across its owned and managed hotel portfolio. In the 2025
financial year, consumption fell to 40 grams per guest night, an estimated 13
percent reduction compared with the previous year.
Since 2022, single-use plastic consumption per guest
night has declined by around 30 percent. Alongside measures to eliminate
disposable products, TUI is expanding the use of microfiber filtration
technology in hotel laundry systems to reduce the amount of microplastic
entering waterways.
TUI BLUE almost halves use of plastic water bottles
TUI BLUE hotels have reduced their use of plastic
water bottles by almost 50 percent. Measures include the installation of water
dispensers and the introduction of refillable bottles and reusable glasses.
Hotels have also removed or reduced products such as
plastic straws, stirrers, balloons, disposable cups, laundry bags and most
single-use condiment packaging. TUI says its approach follows the principle of
“avoid, reuse, replace”, with reusable products taking priority over simply
substituting one disposable material for another.
The development is particularly visible in Türkiye.
TUI BLUE hotels there reduced plastic consumption from 98 grams per guest night
in the 2024 financial year to 50 grams in 2025, a decrease of almost 49 percent
within one year.
Microfiber filters introduced in hotels
TUI is also extending its efforts to microplastic
pollution. Following the introduction of microfiber filters aboard cruise
ships, the technology is now being installed in selected hotels.
The company is using INDIKON filters from Cleaner Seas
Group in washing machine wastewater systems. According to independent
laboratory tests cited by TUI, the filters can capture up to 99 percent of
microfibers released during washing before they enter wastewater systems.
The captured material can subsequently be recycled
within a closed-loop system. The technology has now been introduced at selected
hotels in Spain, Greece, Italy, Morocco and Türkiye.
Plastic reduction remains part of 2030 strategy
Reducing plastic consumption forms part of TUI's
“People, Planet, Progress” sustainability agenda. The company is also a member
of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative led by the UN Environment Programme.
Under the initiative, TUI has committed to eliminating
problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging by 2030. The programme brings
together tourism companies and organisations with the aim of reducing plastic
pollution and promoting greater use of circular solutions across the travel
industry.
Image Credit: © AI generated illustration with material courtesy of TUI
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