The travel and tourism sector plays a key role in global prosperity, supporting 1 in 10 jobs and contributing $8.8 trillion to global GDP in 2019. However, the sector is dependent on a healthy and thriving environment. With increased understanding of the damage that plastic pollution inflicts upon the environment, the sector is pivoting and increasingly creating awareness of and addressing the impact of single-use plastic products.
In this report, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) presents research to better understand travel and tourism’s specific contribution to single-use plastic products and how sector actors can and are decreasing environmental impact. The report highlights some of the key challenges that still need to be addressed to contribute to a more sustainable future, including the impact of COVID-19 prevention measures on sustainability goals. It also features selected practical case studies where single-use plastic products have been successfully phased out.