Hurtigruten will remove plastic straws, drink mixers, plastic glasses, coffee lids, and plastic bags from all its ships from 2 July 2018. The move forms part of Hurtigruten's efforts to reduce marine pollution, which is said to be increasing at a rate of 15 metric tonnes of plastic per minute.
Hurtigruten's single use plastics ban will be effective across its entire fleet - operating on the Norwegian Coastal Route, as well as expedition cruises from pole to pole. The single-use plastic ban will also be imposed on the hotels, restaurants, and other establishments of Hurtigruten's land-based operations on Svalbard, operated by its fully-owned subsidiary Hurtigruten Svalbard.
