Hospitality industry gears up against plastic threat

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Accor, Club Med, Hong-Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Iberostar, Melco, Six Senses have all reported continuous efforts to implement their commitments to tackle plastic pollution. Together, they have eliminated over 108 million plastic items and packaging in 2020, totalling around 804 metric tons

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis which almost brought international tourism to a complete standstill in 2020, accommodation businesses have continued pursuing efforts to advance towards a circular economy of plastics.

Over 108 million plastic items and packaging have been eliminated in 2020 across the reporting businesses. Plastic items and packaging eliminated in 2020 represent a weight of 804 metric tonnes, which is equivalent to 27 large shipping containers.

Promising progress has been made, especially in the elimination of unnecessary and/or problematic plastic items and packaging in food and beverage services, where about 34 million plastic items and packaging (above 352 metric tonnes) were eliminated; and in bathrooms, with about 74 million of eliminated plastic items and packaging (above 451 metric tonnes).

Positive efforts are also ongoing to eliminate plastic items and packaging in service areas and rooms. The elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic items and packaging in kitchens and cleaning services needs to be further addressed.

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has welcomed a further 21 signatories, taking the total number past 110. The new signatories have been announced alongside the launch of a first annual report, which makes clear the significant progress made in tackling plastics pollution in tourism over the past year.

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Accor, Club Med, Hong-Kong and Shanghai Hotels, Iberostar, Melco, Six Senses have all reported continuous efforts to implement their commitments to tackle plastic pollution. Together, they have eliminated over 108 million plastic items and packaging in 2020, totalling around 804 metric tons.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "In just one year, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has made a real impact. Together, signatories have cut their use of plastic by 800 metric tons, equivalent to 27 large shipping containers full of plastic. I congratulate all those businesses and destinations for their commitment and welcome the 21 newest signatories to the Initiative – a clear sign that tourism is working hard to become more sustainable, even in times of crisis."

Dester, a member of Gate Group and the leading supplier to the aviation, hospitality and foodservice industries has also reported progress, for instance by discontinuing the launch of new products with non-recyclable materials; working on fiber-based technologies and closed loop recycling pilots with customers; and developing new designs.

"We are delighted to have joined the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative through our bye bye plastics program: Club Med has already removed on a global scale disposable plastic items such as cups, straws, cutlery, plates as well as individual plastic packaging from shower gel, shampoo and lotion and from other in-room accessories. We are now aiming to remove single use plastic accessories from our rooms and festive events as well as reducing by up to 50 per cent the use of plastic water bottles in 2024 (compared to 2019)," said Florian Duprat, Sustainability manager at Club Med.

"We are pleased to have been able to formalize our goals and progress in the global commitment of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative report. It gives us the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to developing more sustainable solutions. And, more importantly, by being part of a coordinated action plan with other signatories, we can be sure that we are moving the needle to stop plastic pollution," said Philippe De Naeyer, Director Sustainability at deSter.

More sector-wide commitment

Since the last announcement of signatories in July 2021, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative has officially welcomed 21 new signatories bringing the total of organizations that have committed to implement circular economy of plastics in the tourism sector to 113.

Among the 21 new signatories, the Initiative welcomes four accommodation companies (Alila Villas Uluwatu, JJ's Hostel Mirissa, Phaea Resorts, Sudima Hotels), seven tour operators (Adventuretects LLC, Europamundo, Evaneos, Secret Scotland Tours, SEE Turtles, Travel.Bhutan, Turama Pacific Travel Group), nine supporting organizations (arcenciel, Blue Community, Clewat Ltd, The Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO, Jaya House River Park Siem Reap, Lombok Tourism Polytechnic, Natufagus Consulting, Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA), Worldwide Association of Diving Instructors) and one destination (Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB)). These signatories have set concrete targets around the elimination of unnecessary and problematic plastics, the introduction of reuse models and work on value chain level to improve recyclability.

Hotel chains are implementing measures to replace plastic items and packaging with reuse models. Their efforts have been targeting food and beverage services followed by bathrooms, service areas, and kitchens. One hotel chain also reported replacing plastic items and packaging in cleaning services.