5 Amazing Travel Destinations Tackling Plastic Waste

January 21, 2020 3 min read

We all want the world we travel to stay beautiful. It means we get to enjoy the full glory of nature while on our adventures and also ensure that future generations will be inspired by these places as well. If you’re looking to support places that are tackling things like plastic waste and pollution head on, here are 5 Amazing Travel Destinations Tackling Plastic Waste.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is famed for its pristine beauty and hospitable locals. However, in recent years, the tiny island in Indonesia has been overwhelmed with trash and plastic waste from tourists. During wet season especially, the river systems all flush out into the oceans. This creates a deluge of plastic which then washes back up again on its sandy shores. As part of a campaign to stop this waste, Bali passed a law this year prohibiting plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam. The new law came into effect as of July 2 2019, after a six-month transition period. If you’re heading to Bali, another great tip is to always take a reusable water bottle. Many places now have spring water dispensers where you can fill up, instead of letting more plastic bottles end up in the ocean.

Rhodes, Greece

Thomas Cook travel have been spearheading a campaign recently on the Greek Island of Rhodes to help eliminate plastic at their family hotels, starting with the Sunwing Kallithea. According to the tour operator, an estimated 51,000 inflatables are left behind at their resorts each summer! It’s all part of their pledge to remove 70 million single-use plastics from its resorts this year. The #noplaceforplastic campaign is due to roll out to 12 other hotels shortly as well, both raising awareness and establishing recycling collection points at the accommodation points.

Rottnest Island, Australia

Rottnest Island is seriously one of the most pristine places on the planet. Just a short ferry ride from Perth in Western Australia, it is a certified ecotourism destination with no cars allowed and a total ban on straws. Every shop or hotel on the island uses alternatives like paper straws, metal, or silicon. There’s also a wonderful preservation program there for the island’s unique animal the Quokka, which is like a tiny kangaroo. Well worth the trip for exploring, diving, fishing, surfing and more.

Flanders, Belgium

Most destinations on this list are islands. Maybe that's because plastic pollution is so much more visible when washed up on a beach. However, the entire region of Flanders, Belgium is leading Europe in having the highest amount of recycled residential waste at 75%! That’s crazy considering only 9% of the world’s plastic bottles are recycled at all. Flanders is working towards zero waste by focussing on recycling programs, source separation and prevention. The region has some incredible places to visit as well. Just one is the medieval town of Bruges.

Costa Rica

From islands, to regions and now an entire country! Costa Rica is a well-known hotspot for ecotourism. They have already been able to become 60% powered by renewable energy with the aim to be completely green by 2021. Another amazing target they’re aiming for is to eliminate all single-use plastics in the country by 2021. This would make them the world’s first plastic-free country. Costa Rica is also one of the safest countries to visit in Central America. It also has a range of biodiverse areas to check out. Rainforests, volcanoes and beaches are just the beginning. If you’re heading off on some travels soon, check outPacsafe’s Metrosafe X Collection made from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. Perfect to help protect your valuables and the planet at the same time.