The travel industry is going to find itself under increasing pressure over the green issue, said Eurostar commercial director Nick Mercer.
Speaking at the Institute of Travel & Tourism conference this morning he said the there was a real social responsibility for the industry to act.
He said: “The travel industry is going to come under increasing pressure. As an industry we need to stay one step ahead on this issue.”
He said the first time Eurostar started to recognise the importance of the issue was when its corporate accounts such as banks started to ask them for details of their CO2 emmissions. Its own research revealed that travelling by train created 10 times carbon than flying.
Eurostar believes it is the most carbon neutral operator operating anywhere in the world. It has taken the lead, he said, by only stocking locally sourced food and offsetting any carbon at its own cost.