The story, which was highlighted in the news last week, was a reminder of the impact that rubbish in our oceans can have on marine life, and why it is so important to keep the spotlight firmly on sustainability.

Tourists are far from the only contributors to litter in the ocean, but ensuring that tourism doesn’t add to the problem is a key aspect of the Make Holidays Greener campaign – which this year runs for a full two months.

The campaign, which launches next week on July 1 is led by Abta in partnership with Travelife for Hotels & Accommodations, and aims to encourage holidaymakers and the travel industry to make sustainable holiday pledges, and support local communities in tourist destinations.

Last year, almost 2,000 people collected more than 6,000kg of rubbish as part of 125 beach cleans in 23 countries.

But as we highlight, every effort, no matter how small, makes a difference. Tui will again be committing to beach cleans, while Thomas Cook will be urging customers to make greener holiday pledges. Meanwhile, Barrhead Travel will be holding “no plastic days” across all of its branches.

There are other ways to make a difference. We highlight experiences that both give back to the local community and create lasting holiday memories – from releasing baby turtles back into the ocean to dining with locals in Mauritius or enjoying a medicinal tea ceremony in Canada.

Are you planning a beach clean? How are you raising awareness about sustainable holidays with customers? Let us know... your clients alone cannot solve this crisis, but making holidays greener is a powerful first step.