Sustainable Holidays: easyJet’s Plastic Recycling and EV Use

According to the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), annually more than half of plastic production is destined for a single use product. 

easyJet Holidays is accelerating its sustainability efforts to help decrease consumer, partner and its own carbon emissions as well as single-use plastic. 

In 2025, easyJet generated €5.9bn (US$6.9bn) in economic impact, according to its latest impact report which highlights the company’s sustainable holiday initiatives.

Expanding sustainable hotels

According to easyJet, due to its enhanced efforts certified sustainable hotels and lower-carbon investments have risen by 65%.

easyJet’s operations across key Mediterranean destinations demonstrate a significant socio-economic contribution alongside growing sustainability progress. 

A study commissioned by easyJet to Tourism Economics (part of Oxford Economics) found that in 2025, easyJet Holidays generated €5.9bn (US$6.9bn) in economic output across Spain, Greece, and Turkey, contributing €2.4bn (US$2.8bn) to GDP, supporting around 42,900 jobs and producing €678m (US$796.8m) in tax revenues. 

Customers also spent an estimated €1.2bn (US$1.4bn) with local businesses, highlighting the positive multiplier effect of package tourism on destination economies, particularly as holidaymakers tend to stay longer than average visitors and therefore increase local spending. 

In 2025, the company also made major advances in sustainable tourism.

More than 2,800 properties in easyJet’s portfolio now hold internationally recognised sustainability certificates. 

These certificates are being prioritised to where the biggest impact could occur, including 42 of its top 100 highest-volume hotels.

This progress is supported by ongoing collaboration with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), reflecting a broader strategy to improve industry standards and expand access to more responsible travel options, building on the previous year when over a third of best-selling properties were already certified.

Electric holiday transfers

The holiday company is also expanding its EV initiatives after its successful launch of transfers in Rhodes, Greece, in 2025.

easyJet is expanding EV transfers to Antalya, Turkey, to help reduce CO₂ emissions.

To date, more than 11,000 of easyJet’s customers have used electric transfers on holidays.

The sustainable transfers covered an estimated 500,000 km, equivalent to 12 trips around the world.

Due to the vast amount of kilometers, the EVs managed to save more than 86 tonnes of CO₂e.

“As a mainstream tour operator, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to help shape the future of travel,” says Garry Wilson, CEO of easyJet Holidays.

“This year’s Impact Report highlights the progress we’re making and, for the first time, helps quantify the wider contribution of our holidays through our partnership with Oxford Economics.

“From expanding our certified hotel portfolio to scaling lower-carbon transport and supporting local communities, we’re focused on delivering measurable change at scale. 

“This report shows how we’re turning practical solutions into meaningful action across mainstream travel.

“Our work with Oxford Economics is an important step in understanding and evidencing that contribution, helping ensure we continue to deliver value not only for our customers, but for the destinations and communities we serve.”

Tackling plastic waste

According to SHA, 32% of all plastic packaging ends up in our oceans each year. 

easyJet has acknowledged both plastic pollution data and growing customer demand to reduce single-use plastics, expanding its work with hotel partners in Menorca, Spain.

Four partner hotels and chains have undergone a certification process, supported by audits and guidance.

To date, more than 50Kg of plastic waste has been avoided thanks to this initiative.

The introduction of more than 100 plastic-free alternatives is also being adopted across hotels.

To solidify the company’s commitment to a sustainable future, easyJet has partnered with UN Tourism to create the first ESG framework for business in the tourism sector.

As well as the UN, easyJet is partnering with Winnow to actively tackle food waste across hotels, aiming to reduce waste at scale.