The travel sector can take inspiration from the fashion industry to enhance sustainability efforts.
- Carol Rose of Abta urges the travel industry to adopt “disruptive thinking” to reduce waste.
- Drawing from her fashion industry experience, Rose calls for a focus on the circular economy.
- Communicating sustainability can be challenging due to consumer focus on cost and destination.
- Industry experts highlight practical steps to embrace sustainability and improve circular practices.
The travel industry stands at a crossroads, with sustainability emerging as a pivotal concern. Carol Rose, Abta’s head of sustainability, suggests that lessons from the fashion industry could inform a more sustainable approach within tourism. The rising popularity of vintage or ‘pre-loved’ clothing in fashion is a potential model for tourism products, demonstrating the value of reusing and recycling materials to curb waste.
Rose, who has past experience in the fashion sector, was a speaker at a ‘circular economy’ session during Spain’s Sustainability Day in London. Challenges in conveying sustainability messages to customers are evident, with a primary focus on destinations and cost overshadowing environmental considerations. However, Rose believes that engaging storytelling, especially in hotel settings, can successfully communicate the principles of the circular economy to travellers during their stay.
Circular economy principles are integral to reducing waste within the tourism sector. According to Rose, the lifespan of hotel items such as furniture, hairdryers, and electric shavers can be extended rather than disposing of them prematurely. Such approaches require ‘disruptive thinking’, prompting the industry to innovate longstanding practices.
Nadine Pinto, global sustainability manager at The Travel Corporation, further emphasises the slow adoption of circular economy practices in the travel sector. TTC’s initiatives include utilising food waste in recipes, replacing plastic with glass bottles, and halting the distribution of branded merchandise. These actions reflect a larger industry trend towards sustainability.
Additionally, Gabriel Llobera Ramis from Garden Hotels highlights the use of artificial intelligence in waste management. His call for ‘circularity’ strategies includes the effective tactic of locally sourced products, reminiscent of traditional practices. “We should get things done like our grandparents used to,” he remarks, encouraging a return to sustainable roots.
Adopting sustainable practices inspired by the fashion industry’s circular economy could lead to significant reductions in waste within the travel sector.
