Sustainable alternatives on tours
There exist a range of alternatives for single-use (plastic) products used on tours but not all are as green and sustainable as they seem.
We show you different alternatives for single-use plastic items usually used on tours including their impact on the environment.
Sustainability Ratings Charts
Below you’ll find an overview of potential alternatives that can be used to replace single-use plastic products in restaurants or bars.
The potential alternatives are listed on a scale of 0–10.
A solution rated 0 has the least negative impact, a solution rated 10 has a high negative impact and corresponding traffic light colours provide a more visual demonstration.
All suggested alternatives are compliant with the EU Plastics Directive.
Single-use plastic water bottles
According to our research the best option to offer water to your guests is by using tap water (if safe to drink or filtered) or water stations with reusable glasses / bottles.
Make sure that the measure is well communicated to guests and staff and that everyone is provided with or has access to a reusable glass / bottle.
If providing tap water or installing water filter station is not possible in your region you can check whether one of your suppliers offers medium glass water bottles with a return system which has a better impact on the environment than disposable bottles.
See our Decision Tree for Water Bottles as well our Standard Operating Procedures for Water Bottles on Tours to make a more informed decision.
Single-use plastic water bottles
| Tap water | 0 | |
| Dispensers with returnable big size water container | 2.14 | |
| Reusable bottle (carafes) with filtered water on site | 2.2 | |
| Medium glass bottle (local & returnable to supplier) | 2.2 | |
| Medium plastic bottle (local & returnable to supplier) | 2.64 | |
| Medium glass bottle (local & disposable) | 4.4 | |
| Single-use medium size bottles made from recycled plastic | 4.86 | |
| Carton box of water | 7.38 |
Single-use plastic cups
Single-use plastic cups have a high negative impact on the environment. It is recommended to replace them with reusable cups made from glass or hard plastic as they can be washed, don’t break and save a lot of waste.
Single-use plastic cups should not be replaced by products made of paper or other single-use materials. These products create a lot of waste as well and put pressure on other resources.
For example, paper cups and containers are often lined with plastic to avoid sipping and cannot be recycled as the two materials (plastic / paper) cannot be separated.
See our Decision Tree for Single-use Plastic Cups as well as our Standard Operating Procedure for Reusable Cups and Glasses to make a more informed decision.
Single-use plastic cups
| Reusable cups from glass | 2.93 | |
| Reusable cups from stainless steel | 3.01 | |
| Reusable cups from hard plastic | 4.27 | |
| Single-use cups made from 100% home compostable material (e.g. bagasse) | 5.67 | |
| Single-use paper cups lined with aqueous plastic | 5.85 | |
| Single-use paper cups lined with home compostable plastic | 6.49 | |
| Single-use paper cups lined with traditional plastic | 6.79 | |
| Single-use cups made from industrially compostable plastic | 7.01 |
Single-use plastic food containers
Single-use plastic containers should not be replaced by products made of bamboo or other single-use materials. These products create a lot of waste as well and put pressure on other resources.
For example, paper containers are often lined with plastic to avoid sipping and cannot be recycled as the two materials (plastic / paper) cannot be separated.
Provide reusable containers, e.g. made of hard-plastic. They can be washed in the dishwasher, don’t break and save a lot of waste.
See our Decision Tree for Single-Use Food Containers as well as our Standard Operating Procedure for Reusable Food Containers to make a more informed decision.
Single-use plastic food containers
| Bring your own policy | 0 | |
| Reusable boxes from stainless steel | 2.26 | |
| Reusable boxes from reusable plastic | 2.63 | |
| Reusable wax wraps | 3.51 | |
| Single-use boxes made from bagasse | 4.37 | |
| Single-use boxes made from naturally compostable materials (e.g. paper, bamboo) | 4.67 | |
| Single-use boxes made from recycled plastic | 4.86 | |
| Single-use boxes made from home or industrially compostable plastic | 5.26 |
Single-use plastic cutlery and crockery
Single-use plastic cutlery and crockery have a high negative impact on the environment. Replacing them with reusable alternatives such as cutlery made of stainless steel does not only contributes to environmental protection but can also save money.
Provide reusable cutlery and crockery, e.g. made of stainless steel or hard-plastic. They can be washed in the dishwasher, don’t break and save a lot of waste. Make sure to communicate to your guests, e.g. asking them to return the cutlery after use.
Single-use cutlery or crockery made of wood or bamboo should also be avoided as it also put pressure on natural resources such as trees. Plus, the amount of waste stays the same.
Single-use plastic cutlery and crockery
| Reusable cutlery and crockery made of stainless steel | 3.04 | |
| Reusable cutlery and crockery made of hard plastic | 3.53 | |
| Reusable cutlery and crockery made of wood or bamboo | 6.23 |
Single-use plastic cling film
Single-use plastic cling film is not needed in order to keep food fresh and hygienically clean, it only produces a lot of unnecessary plastic waste.
In order to provide fresh fruits or meals to your guests you have several options that do not include any single-use plastic packaging. Provide fruits such as bananas, apples or pears in its own skin and inform your guests that the fruits have been washed thoroughly.
Picnic can be either provided in bento baskets made from glass or Tupperware with lids. Both can be washed and thus reused again and again.
Cooked meals or fresh food can also be provided in pastry domes or with plate covers made from stainless steel.
See our Decision Tree for Single-Use plastic cling film to make a more informed decision.
Single-use plastic cling film
| Fruit in its own skin that doesn’t require wrapping | 0 | |
| Reusable trolly rack covers made from plastic | 2.18 | |
| Bento baskets made from glass | 2.2 | |
| Tupperware with lids made from HPDE | 2.63 | |
| Pastry dome made from glass / mason jar with lid | 2.93 | |
| Plate cover made from stainless steel / wire rack pastry cover | 3.01 | |
| Reusable silicone lid for bain-maries | 4.27 | |
| Aluminium foil | 6.03 | |
| Snack bar: Greaseproof paper | 6.79 | |
| Home compostable cling film | 7.02 |
Single-use miniature sanitizer bottles
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic (and other illness outbreaks) the use of disinfectants is increasing, many tourism business are providing sanitizer in miniature plastic bottles to their customers.
By providing refillable option such as bottles made from stainless steel or handwashing or sanitising stations to guests and staff the amount of (plastic) waste is reduced.
If these options are not possible in your company think of providing disinfectants in bottles made of recycled plastic.
See our Decision Tree for Sanitizer Bottles as well as our Standard Operating Procedures for Handwashing and Sanitizing to make a more informed decision.
Single-use miniature sanitiser bottles
| Miniature bottles made from stainless steel or aluminium | 3.01 | |
| Handwashing with bar soap in cardboard packaging | 5.28 | |
| Refill dispensers made from plastic | 3.51 | |
| Miniature bottles made from recycled plastic | 6.49 | |
| Miniature bottles made from home or industrially compostable plastic | 7.02 |
