100 companies and organisations in tourism to reduce plastic waste on holiday destinations

Green Key is joining over 100 companies and organisations from the tourism sector in signing the International Tourism Plastic Pledge today. In doing so, Green Key expresses its commitment to reducing plastic pollution at holiday destinations worldwide.

Every year, more than eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the sea. It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish. The tourism sector also contributes to this. Think of bottles, straws and bags used by tourists. Research has shown that hotel room visitors generate much more plastic waste than a normal household in the same region.

The signatories include TUI Group, Radisson Hotel Group and Hostelling International. Together they represent around180,000 employees and 50 million holidaymakers. In the coming months, a plan will be developed to reduce the use of plastics and to prevent plastic pollution at destinations. This will be a collaboration with the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), UN Environment and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. MVO Nederland (CSR Netherlands) is the initiator and guides the companies towards further steps.

As a signatory of the International Tourism Plastic Pledge, Green Key recognizes the urgency and the need to work together to reduce plastic pollution and keep our holiday destinations plastic pollution-free. We will continue our efforts to promote alternatives to single-use plastics by exchanging knowledge, best practices and tools for the hospitality industry in particular.

Signing the Tourism Plastic Pledge is another step forward to implement sustainable practices within the tourism industry. Green Key criteria are taking into account the establishments’ commitment to educate and provide their guests with alternatives to single-use plastic. Each action (or inaction) matters and we will continue our work to preserve our planet from plastic pollution.

- Finn Bolding Thomsen, Green Key International Director

Resources regarding best practices such as stories and news about eco-friendly initiatives from the 3,100 Green Key awarded establishments can be find on our website. For example, Green Key strongly supports world’s leading hotel companies which recently banned bathroom miniatures from their rooms such as establishments introducing alternatives to single-use plastic bottles to their guests.

Check the complete list of signatories of the International Tourism Plastic Pledge here.  Other companies from the tourism sector are also welcomed to participate. You can also sign the Tourism Plastic Pledge here: www.tourismplasticpledge.com.

Morena Resort promotes alternatives to single-use plastic bottles

This summer, a water refill station has been introduced on Morena Resort, Curacao. An initiative to say goodbye to your no re-usable plastic bottles!

Morena Resort´s Water Refill Program is aligned with Morena´s desire to be recognized as an eco-resort. Indeed, this Green Key awarded establishment has been built with environmentally sustainable materials from regional fair-trade cooperatives and uses low environmental impact techniques such as solar water heater on its roofs. This new element available for the tourists is a reusable bottle called D-TAP. It has been introduced by D-Bottle, a brand promoting steel reusable bottles to reduce single-use of plastic.

Moreover, the guests have the possibility the (re)fill it at the Resort´s D-TAP water refill station or the others Curacao´s ones. A D-TAP phone App permits to find nearby Refill location. With Google maps, you can easily find clean water everywhere you go! Guests don´t have any excuses for not getting rid of their single-use plastic bottle.

Since 1,4 million tourists visit Curacao each year, having a refill station could be a great way to raise awareness about the single-use plastic´s dangers for the planet. For that, guests can purchase a special D-Bottle at the Resort´s reception, knowing that 5% of each D-TAP bottle bought will be donated to the Sea Turtle Conservation Curacao.

Over 1 million plastic bottle are purchased every minute worldwide and nearly 80% of these end up in our landfills and oceans. At this rate, the amount of single-use plastic ending up in our oceans will outweigh fish by 2050, unless we make a change.

- D-Bottle website