According to the companies, while the plastic wrapping in use is recyclable, the introduction of the new cardboard packaging would potentially save approximately 25 tonnes of plastic wrap from landfill and reduce carbon impact by 13% if all customers made the switch.

The new initiative follows BP Travel Marketing’s 2019 pilot to minimise waste from plastic wrapping and to capture and recycle used material from agencies across the country England.

Explore has also created a carbon rating tool for all of its tours and has called on the rest of the travel industry to follow suit.

Ben Ittensohn, director of global sales at Explore Worldwide said he was excited to be "pioneering" the approach in the travel sector and to be working with BP. 

Ittensohn said: “Recyclable cardboard wrapping is more sustainable for the planet and is the right way forward for the industry. It will help us towards our goal of reducing our carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, and to achieve net zero as soon as possible before 2050.”

Tom Bullen, head of sales at BP Travel Marketing, added: "We’re delighted to have worked with Explore Worldwide on this new approach. Our relationship spans 15 years, and we continually strive to improve not only our performance in delivering for their business but also what we can do together to create a more sustainable future."