The first United Nations World Environment Day (WED) happened in 1972 and over the following 37 years the initiative has been gaining traction as a vehicle to generate awareness of environmental issues. Thomas Cook was one company that supported the initiative with action events all over Europe and in Egypt. A sustainable tourism fashion show fashion show was held in Italy and a coastal walk was organised on the Coast del Sol to raise money for a local charity. In Paphos on Cyprus, Gran Canaria and Zakynthos Thomas Cook staff took part in beach clean up initiatives. The company sees WED as a good opportunity to educate both staff and guests about the environmental impact of travel and the means of making leisure travel a sustainable option.

Laganas, perhaps the busiest tourist resort on Zakynthos, was the beneficiary of one Thomas Cook clean up team, who took to the beach and collected both discarded and washed-up debris, as well as gathering up rubbish from visitors to the beaches on the day. The Mayor of Alykanas, another beach area to benefit from the efforts of Thomas Cook staff, said he viewed the initiative taken by the company as very positive.

Several of the beaches in this part of Zakynthos have been awarded Blue Flag status and any campaigns which generate awareness, as well as involving local groups, tour operators and tourists in combined efforts to keep them clean, can only be good news.