How to Reduce Plastic Waste in Tourism: Sri Lanka’s One Traveller, One Kilogram Initiative
One Traveller. One Kilogram. One Movement.
Tourism brings millions of people to destinations celebrated for their natural beauty. But tourism also generates plastic waste, from disposable water bottles and food packaging to single-use products used throughout a traveller’s journey.
For travel companies committed to sustainable tourism in Sri Lanka, an important question is becoming increasingly relevant:
How can we reduce plastic waste in tourism while giving travellers meaningful experiences?
The ZeroPlastic Movement is introducing a practical initiative that connects tourism with measurable environmental action.
Starting 1 January 2027, the One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative will match every traveller visiting the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in Sigiriya through a registered travel partner with the removal of 1 kilogram of plastic waste from Sri Lanka’s beaches.
The initiative is offered to participating travel companies at absolutely no cost.
Why Reducing Plastic Waste in Tourism Matters
Sri Lanka’s beaches, oceans, wildlife and natural landscapes are among its greatest tourism assets. Protecting these environments is essential to the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry.
Yet plastic pollution remains a challenge for popular tourist destinations.
Single-use plastic bottles, disposable food containers, shopping bags and unnecessary packaging contribute to waste generation throughout the tourism value chain.
Reducing plastic consumption at its source is essential. However, addressing existing plastic pollution is equally important.
This is where tourism businesses can play a meaningful role.
By adopting responsible tourism practices, supporting local communities and participating in environmental conservation initiatives, travel companies can contribute to protecting the destinations on which their businesses depend.
How Can Travel Companies Reduce Plastic Waste in Sri Lanka?
Travel operators and destination management companies (DMCs) can help reduce plastic pollution through simple operational changes.
Some practical approaches include:
Reduce single-use plastic bottles: Encourage reusable water bottles and provide access to safe drinking-water refill stations.
Avoid unnecessary plastic packaging: Work with hotels, restaurants and transport providers to minimise disposable packaging.
Promote sustainable alternatives: Introduce travellers to locally made, reusable products instead of single-use plastic souvenirs.
Educate travellers: Include short environmental awareness experiences in travel itineraries.
Support plastic waste removal: Partner with environmental organisations working to remove existing plastic pollution.
These actions can help reduce travellers’ plastic footprints while strengthening a travel company’s commitment to responsible tourism.
The ZeroPlastic Impact Center in Sigiriya offers an opportunity to introduce travellers to sustainable local craftsmanship and connect their visit with a measurable environmental contribution.
Introducing One Traveller, One Kilogram
The One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative is a new commitment by the ZeroPlastic Movement to connect visitor numbers with plastic waste removal.
The concept is simple:
1 Traveller = 1 Kilogram of Plastic Removed
When a registered travel company brings visitors to the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in Sigiriya, the ZeroPlastic Movement commits to removing an equivalent number of kilograms of plastic waste from Sri Lanka’s beaches.
For example:
300 travellers = 300 kg of plastic removed
600 travellers = 600 kg of plastic removed
1,200 travellers = 1,200 kg of plastic removed
The initiative is designed to create measurable environmental benefits through existing tourism operations.
Importantly, removing 1 kilogram of plastic waste does not mean a traveller has eliminated their entire plastic footprint. The programme supports the removal of existing plastic pollution while encouraging responsible travel practices.
A Dedicated Beach Cleanup for Every Travel Partner
One of the defining features of this sustainable tourism initiative is its dedicated cleanup model.
Every participating travel company receives its own environmental cleanup commitment.
Once a registered travel partner brings 300 travellers to the Impact Center, the ZeroPlastic Movement will organise a beach cleanup exclusively dedicated to that company.
A minimum of 300 kilograms of plastic waste will be removed in recognition of those travellers.
The collected waste will be recorded and attributed to the respective travel company, preventing the same cleanup contribution from being claimed by multiple partners.
Following each cleanup, participating companies will receive:
Documented plastic waste collection records
Geo-tagged photographs of the cleanup
A dedicated environmental impact report
An opportunity for their employees or representatives to participate in the cleanup
These records will help travel businesses communicate their contribution to environmental conservation with transparency and accountability.
Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka Without Additional Partnership Costs
For many tourism businesses, implementing environmental programmes can require additional budgets, staff and resources.
The One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative takes a different approach.
There is no participation fee or cleanup cost for registered travel partners.
Companies simply include the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in their Sigiriya travel itineraries.
Visitors can enjoy a free cultural and environmental experience, discover traditional Sri Lankan craftsmanship and explore sustainable products produced by local artisans.
Optional paid hands-on craft workshops are available for travellers who wish to experience traditional craftsmanship more deeply.
Purchases and paid workshops are entirely optional.
The ZeroPlastic Movement, supported by its nationwide university volunteer network, takes responsibility for organising and executing the beach cleanups.
Travel companies bring the travellers. The ZeroPlastic Movement delivers the environmental action.
How Can Travellers Reduce Their Plastic Footprint While Visiting Sri Lanka?
Travellers themselves also have an important role in making tourism more sustainable.
Simple choices throughout a journey can reduce the amount of plastic waste generated.
Carrying a reusable bottle, refusing unnecessary disposable plastics, selecting locally made reusable products and supporting accommodation providers that reduce plastic consumption are practical starting points.
Travellers visiting Sigiriya can also explore the ZeroPlastic Impact Center, where traditional craftsmanship, local communities and environmental education come together.
Through the One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative, visitors of registered travel partners can additionally contribute to organised plastic waste removal from Sri Lanka’s beaches.
This creates an opportunity for travellers to participate in environmental action rather than simply observe sustainability initiatives.
Supported by the ZeroPlastic Movement’s University Volunteer Network
The initiative will be implemented by the ZeroPlastic Movement, one of Sri Lanka’s largest youth-led environmental initiatives.
Established in 2021, the movement has mobilised thousands of volunteers through universities, community organisations and environmental partnerships.
With a nationwide network of more than 12,000 members, the ZeroPlastic Movement works to address plastic pollution through community engagement, education, environmental action and advocacy.
The One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative extends this work into Sri Lanka’s tourism sector by creating a direct connection between visitor experiences and measurable beach cleanup activities.
Nishshanka De Silva, Founder of the ZeroPlastic Movement and ZeroPlastic Impact Center, explains the vision:
“We are not asking travel companies to fund another environmental project. We are inviting them to make measurable environmental action part of what they already do.
Tourism depends on the natural beauty of our country. We believe the industry has an opportunity to take a more active role in protecting it. Through this initiative, we are turning every qualifying visitor into a measurable commitment to remove plastic pollution.”
Only 10 Travel Partners Will Be Selected for the Initial Programme
The ZeroPlastic Movement will initially onboard 10 travel companies for the programme beginning on 1 January 2027.
The invitation is open to:
Inbound tour operators in Sri Lanka
Destination management companies (DMCs)
International travel companies operating Sri Lankan tours
Responsible tourism and sustainable travel businesses
Group travel and adventure tourism operators
Selected partners will have the opportunity to include the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in their itineraries and receive dedicated, documented beach cleanup contributions.
The programme aims to demonstrate how practical partnerships can make environmental responsibility part of everyday tourism operations.
Join the Movement: Make Every Traveller Count
Reducing plastic pollution in tourism requires cooperation between travellers, businesses, local communities and environmental organisations.
The One Traveller, One Kilogram initiative offers a practical way to connect these groups through transparent environmental action.
One Traveller. One Kilogram. One Movement.
Your travellers visit. Our movement acts.
Travel companies interested in becoming one of the first 10 registered partners are invited to contact the ZeroPlastic Impact Center.
Partnership enquiries: impactcenter@zeroplastic.lk
Discover the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in Sigiriya: https://www.zeroplastic.lk/impact-center-premium.html
Programme launch: 1 January 2027
Initial partnership opportunities: Limited to 10 travel companies.
One Traveller, One Kilogram is an initiative of the ZeroPlastic Movement, Sri Lanka, implemented through the ZeroPlastic Impact Center in Sigiriya.
