All single-use plastic products in this company’s hotels will be immediately replaced with alternate materials worldwide.
Gabriel Escarrer, executive VP and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, has announced that the company will eliminate all single-use plastics in every one of its hotels within the year. The move will see plastic bottles, cups, bags, straws and coasters immediately replaced by reusable items. The elimination will be saving more than 15 tonnes of CO2emissions generated by waste disposal per year.
“Great customer experiences have to be compatible with respect for the planet,” Escarrer explained. “Plastic pollution is a global challenge which affects all destinations, and the tourism business depends on the sustainability of destinations. This is something that we are very aware of at Meliá Hotels International, as an international leader in resort hotels.”
More than 22 million plastic bottles were disposed of at Meliá Hotels International properties globally, throughout 2017. The decision to eliminate these items will significantly reduce plastic pollution from the company, as well as serving to raise awareness of the issue among the 30 million customers who visit Meliá Hotels International properties each year. The company has drawn up a roadmap to replace single-use plastics with biodegradable or environmentally friendly alternatives before the end of 2018.
“Combating climate change and reducing emissions has been part of our strategy for years, with well-established energy efficiency programs in hotels, and agreements with suppliers regarding the exclusive use of renewable energy. The company has also taken further steps toward combating climate change by assuming the commitments defined at the Paris Climate Summit.”
Meliá Hotels International has been named one of the world’s leading companies in combating climate change by the Carbon Disclosure Project index, due to the group’s exemplary drive toward reducing its impact on the planet. Meliá Hotels International acknowledges the pivotal role the tourism industry plays in the fight against climate change. According to the Global Risk Report, four of the five biggest risks to the tourism industry throughout the next 10 years are related to climate change, ranging from extreme weather to water shortages.
Escarrer firmly believes that companies must play a fundamental role in contributing to the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. He also affirmed that the business world, institutions, and society in general have to get involved and work together in combating climate change, and tackling other major global challenges.
