April 24, 2018Over two years ago, Exodus announced that we're ‘banning the bottle’ and removing all single-use plastic water bottles from itineraries. As a team, we’re really passionate about responsible tourism and always looking for new ways to improve our green footprint.Responsible Tourism On average, travellers get through four plastic water bottles in a day. In order to see how easy it actually is to avoid single-use plastic when travelling, earlier this month I set myself the challenge of going plastic-free during a two week trip to Vietnam.I was feeling pretty excited by the task ahead and knew the key to succeeding was organisation. As a member of the Responsible Travel Committee at Exodus, I really wanted to understand how travellers can do their bit for the environment whilst making sure avoiding plastic was still safe, convenient and easy.The experience itself was eye-opening. It was obvious just how problematic single-use plastic had become, and it really hit home just how important it is to recycle and reuse products that we already have in our possession.To ensure I didn’t need to use single-use plastic on my holiday I came prepared with my own survival kit equipped with items like reusable cutlery, and a refillable water bottle.Reusable plastic itemsAlternatives to PlasticUpon arrival in Vietnam, we were given cotton tote bags so that we could avoid plastic carrier bags when shopping. After just a few days in the country, it became apparent that rejecting plastic bags and drinking straws was pretty much unheard of.Sometimes I was laughed at for asking for "no straw please!" (In a light-hearted way of course – the locals are extremely friendly) or misunderstood and provided with one anyway. Carrier bags were easier to avoid than drinking straws, as I could easily show my reusable tote bag and pop my shopping straight in, but I was almost always provided with one initially.I think the most unnecessary use of plastic I saw was during a visit to a local hill tribe where we were given oranges individually wrapped in plastic bags!Individually wrapped orangesWhat I discovered was that it is very easy to say ‘no’ to plastic, but a lot of people simply don’t give it a second thought. Some will use water bottle after water bottle, use a new plastic carrier bag for every shopping trip, or sip on drinks with two straws – the second one just perched on the side of the glass purely for decoration.It wasn’t always easy to avoid plastic but I felt really proud of myself on my return. It became apparent how much of an impact travellers could have if more of us took just small steps to make plastic-free the norm. If every traveller said "no thanks" to plastic more often, the results could be enormous.What I learnt from my trip was that with just a small amount of preparation and the right mindset, travelling responsibly can be both enlightening and rewarding and enrich our overall experience.How to reduce your use of plasticBefore your trip:• Pack a travel mug for takeaway drinks • Take a tote bag with you for when you buy souvenirs etc.• Pack a reusable water bottle During your trip:• Refuse single-use plastic where possible• Explain why single-use plastic is not environmentally friendly to other travellers/local peopleWhen you get back:• Provide us with any useful feedback you can think of from your trip• Tag Exodus in your Facebook/Instagram plastic-free travel postsFind out more about a few of our tours that encourage responsible travel below.
Walking in Tuscany 181 reviews Walk through Italy across Tuscany's idyllic mountains Walking & Trekking Activity level: Moderate Ages: 16+ 8 Days from £1,149 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Sierra de Aitana Trek 104 reviews Beautiful off-season walking through rugged Spanish mountain landscapes Walking & Trekking Activity level: Moderate / Challenging Ages: 16+ 8 Days from £1,199 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Discover Costa Rica 266 reviews Experience the Costa Rican rainforest, mountains and coast Wildlife Activity level: Leisurely Ages: 16+ 15 Days from £2,749 £2,549 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details