The employees collectively took a charity day last week and travelled to Hayling Island, Hampshire to clean up the beach alongside environmental NGO Final Straw Foundation.
The group, Hotelplan said, managed to collect 40 kg of rubbish as well as a big bucket of microplastics.
“We talk about looking after the destinations we visit a lot, but we want to protect what’s on our doorsteps as well,” said Explore Worldwide’s sustainability specialist, Hannah Methven. “It was eye-opening to have collected that much plastic considering the beach looked clear at first sight.”
The initiative comes as part of Hotelplan’s renewed focus on sustainability, which includes a pledge to reduce the carbon impact of its businesses and operations.
Earlier this week, the group – which owns and operates Inghams, Explore, Esprit Ski and Inntravel – announced the appointment of Krissy Roe and Ruth Woodall as sustainability leads.
