Plastic & Travelling – Bye Bye Single-Use?

Welcome to the first episode of “We’re on It, right?” - A TUI podcast on sustainability and the future of travel with Rebecca. In this episode, Rebecca takes you on an investigative journey: from airplane cabins to cruise ships, she explores how much single-use plastic is still being used when we travel – and what TUI is really doing about it. On board a TUI flight to Gran Canaria, she speaks with Purser Serge about the reality of catering in the skies: cups, packaging, trays – what is already reusable, and what still needs replacing? And why isn’t paper automatically more sustainable than plastic? Aboard the Marella Explorer, a cruise ship of the TUI Group, she dives even deeper. Environmental Officer Simon Florin explains how the crew avoids plastic and separates waste into 20 different categories. One highlight: a filtration system by the Cleaner Seas Group, installed in the ship’s laundry, captures up to 500 kg of microplastics per year – a major step in the fight against ocean pollution. And one thing becomes clear: recycling is far from a global standard. While some airports and ports have advanced recycling facilities, others lack even the basics. That makes sustainable waste management while travelling a real challenge – and calls for solutions that go far beyond surface-level fixes. This episode offers an honest and detailed look at what TUI has already achieved, where the challenges lie – and why fully circular tourism must remain a shared goal. You’ve got the mindset, we’ve got the mission. Join us in our journey to more sustainable travel. Check your next career move on https://tui.careers.