Responding to its customers' views on plastics, travel company Thomas Cook (London / UK; www.thomascook.com) has launched a campaign aimed at reducing plastics waste. Where possible, the global group is planning to eliminate single-use plastics in its supply chain, replace existing plastic items with sustainable alternatives, as well as work with destination governments, other tour operators, customers and employees to improve recycling infrastructure.

Within the next 12 months, the UK-based group has pledged to remove 70m single-use plastics items from across its operations, on its own-brand planes and in its own-brand hotels. The company recognises it has "a lot more to do" to understand exactly how much plastic it and its supply chain and partners use, and it is starting with "big volume" items like straws and stirrers.

Thomas Cook says customers notice litter on a beach, with one third of them reporting that it affects their decision whether to visit that location again. The majority have also said they can do without many single-use plastic items. According to the company, two thirds of customers say they would be more likely to use a travel company that is "serious about reducing the use of plastic items."

More than one fifth of customers have said they are more likely to throw away plastic than recycle it while on holiday. As a result, the company wants to raise awareness on recycling and has announced a pilot with UK brand Wyatt and Jack, which will take holidaymakers' discarded plastic inflatables and upcycle these into bags and accessories.

Another pilot will be established in Rhodes / Greece, where Thomas Cook wants to trial new materials as possible alternatives to plastic. If successful, the alternatives could be used across the group's business.