Sandals Resorts International (SRI) says it will be eliminating all Styrofoam products from the 19 Sandals and Beaches resorts across the region, “in a continued effort to protect the environment.”
Deputy Chairman of SRI, Adam Stewart, in a statement on Thursday said environmental sustainability remains a key priority to the company.
“After eliminating plastic straws, stirrers, laundry bags and gift shop bags last year, we’re choosing to eliminate Styrofoam from our resorts. We’re proud that many of the islands in which we operate are also making this shift to ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean,” he said.
According to SRI, the Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, continues to amplify efforts to reduce pollution in the Caribbean and educate communities on the dangers pollution poses to the environment, health and tourism.
“Eliminating Styrofoam is yet another way we’re reducing our environmental footprint and improving the health of our Caribbean communities,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. “Education is critical, and that’s where the Sandals Foundation comes in. We want to keep our islands clean and beautiful for citizens, visitors and marine wildlife alike.”
The elimination of Styrofoam is particularly important in the Caribbean region, where marine wildlife across the more than 700 islands and coastlines is abundant. According to Environment America’s Wildlife Over Waste campaign, scientists have found plastic fragments including Styrofoam in 86 per cent of all sea turtle species, 44 per cent of all seabird species and 43 per cent of all marine mammal species.
All Sandals and Beaches Resorts are certified by the EarthCheck benchmarking and certification program, with nine resorts currently holding Master Certification.
The company is the only hotel chain in the world to have all of its resorts certified.
In the coming year, SRI says it will also explore opportunities to eliminate other plastic across its resorts by September 2019.
