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How we said goodbye to single-use plastics Insummer 2018, we were the first cruiseline to remove single-use plastics from all our ships and offices. Our own Helga Bardsdatter Kristiansen was the driving force behind the initiative. Asa biologist and expedition leader, Helga had seen the danger plastics posed to our oceans. She knew we needed to take swift action against plastic waste long before it became an issue highlighted by mainstream media. “T've wanted to do something to raise awareness about plastics in the ocean for along time,’ she says. “We all have ahuge challenge to face when it comesto garbage ingeneral” Helga started by doing research on the amount of disposable plastic which was being used on our ships. “I found that 1,653 single-use plastic cups were placed in the bathrooms of cabins throughout the fleet each day. Just these cups alone would add upto several tonnes of plastic waste over ten years. Those numbers shocked me.” Taking action Equipped with a matrix that calculated plastic consumption and feedback forms from past guests, Helga brought her findings to senior management at The Coastal Express. Helga Bardsdatter Kristiansen Her hard work was very well received and plans were quickly put into place to begin the process of removing the single-use plastic and finding alternatives. “The Coastal Express proved to me that itreally is possible to have an idea, to share it, and to see that idea becomea reality,” Helga says with a look of satisfaction. “It’s important to me that I workin a company that really wants to do better and that creates change” Convincing her colleagues As muchas senior management were united in their approach, there were a few concerns by well-meaning crew members. MS Nordlys’ Hotel Manager Lars Grannum admits to being one of them. “T'donly been working for The Coastal Express for five months when the war on disposable plastic was set in motion,” says Lars. “There were some skeptical people amongus, and I was one of them,” he smirks ashe points to himself. “I’ve been in the hotel business for 30 years, and plastics have always been around asa part of the work we do. I wasn't confident that we'd really be able to get rid ofa lot of it. Talso didn’t realise just how much ofit there was!” Lars exclaims. “When I met with Helga to discuss plastic usage, what I found was shocking, really shocking! Plastics were everywhere; the toothbrush cups, the wrapping around these cups, the wrapping around toothpicks, pens, keyringsin the onboard shop, straws, coffee stirrers ~ thelist went on and on” Seeing the scope of what was being planned and the possibility to have biode- gradable or more long-lasting replacements for the single-use plastic, Lars counts him- self as one of the earliest converts. “I’m really
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