Plastic Waste Free Islands project launches zero plastic waste toolkits for the tourism sector in Small Island Developing States

As part of IUCN’s Plastic Waste Free Islands project which promotes circular economy actions that demonstrate effective, quantifiable solutions to addressing plastic leakage from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Searious Business is launching three zero plastic waste toolkits designed for hospitality, tour and cruise companies working in SIDS. These toolkits provide practical guidance on how to prevent plastic waste in the tourism sector, an industry vital to all SIDS in these regions and around the world. The toolkits may also play a part in aiding the drive for a green economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

With strong support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Plastic Waste Free Islands project has been developing practical solutions to plastic leakage in six participating islands in Oceania and the Caribbean regions: Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenada.

The most recent outcome of the project is Plastic Waste Free Tourism toolkits, developed from in-depth consultation with the tourism industry in the two regions. The toolkits address island stakeholders’ desire to see the costs and benefits of changing to more sustainable alternatives.

Each toolkit is targeted at different stakeholders in the tourism sector:

• Hotels
• Cruise Ships
• Tour Operators and Destination Managers

In each kit, relevant stakeholders can find best practices from around the world, concrete suggestions for implementing change, and information about return on investment. The toolkits identify problem areas, and provide tips and tricks for hygienic and convenient zero plastic waste options.

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(Source: IUCN news 23 January 2021)