Tourism gets stricter with plastic pollution & waste

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Tourism businesses and destinations are increasing their commitment toward sustainability. Focused at decreasing waste and pollution in every sector, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) is set to welcome 32 new signatories, with every global region represented behind the shared goal.

This effort will make tourism to address a common issue related to plastic pollution. It helps businesses, governments and other stakeholders of tourism to lead by example in the shift towards a circular economy of plastics. Organizations like TUI Group, AC Hotels by Marriott, Palladium Hotel Group, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, Hostelling International, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association and Visit Valencia are among the 32 new signatories. These new additions bring the total signatories to 93 companies and organizations. These include organizations from stages of the tourism value chain, like the tour operators, accommodation providers, online platforms, suppliers, waste managers and supporting organizations.

To quote Andreas Vermöhlen, Manager for Sustainability, Circular Economy and Sustainable Development at TUI Group, “Together we can make important steps towards less unnecessary single-use plastic in the world and shift towards a circular economy.”

To mark the confirmation of the new signatories, UNWTO and the United Nations Environment Programme, together with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, arranged a special panel of discussion with the theme Eliminate. Innovate.

Circulate. Strategies from the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative. Accor Group, The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Palladium Hotel Group, Chumbe Island Coral Park and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance were some of the participants.

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