Six Senses has become one of the first signatories of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, committing to be free of plastics by 2022.
As a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, an initiative led by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Six Senses has furthered its commitment to eliminating, innovating and circulating its use of plastics by 2025.
However, the brand said it is on its way to being plastic-free by 2022.
“This might be a bold target,” Six Senses said in a statement. “However, as the effects of climate change and plastic pollution become increasingly dire around the world, hosts and guests are supporting and even demanding action.”
Led by the UN Environment Programme and UNWTO, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites more than 450 businesses, governments, and other organisations to address pollution at its source.
To realise this vision, tourism companies and destinations commit to eliminate the plastic items they don’t need; innovate so all plastics they do need are designed to be safely reused, recycled, or composted; and circulate everything they use to keep it in the economy and out of the environment.
“The travel industry is growing at a rapid rate on a planet that has limited natural resources,” Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs said.
“That means all hospitality leaders have a responsibility to stand up and be accountable for making a sustainable difference and achieving measurable results.
“Our health and wellness ethos is around making our guests feel better inside and out, so it makes sense for our social and environmental policies to make them feel good about their choice of vacation and their impact on the ecosystems around them too.”
As part of its commitment, Six Senses said it would commit to:
- Eliminating all plastics from its operations by the year 2022, with priority on single-use plastics and going beyond that to remove 100 per cent virgin plastic sourcing.
- Zero waste to landfill as a general goal for all Six Senses resorts.
- Continuing its policy of no single-use shampoo and amenity bottles, plastic water bottles and plastic straws.
Moreover, on signing the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, Six Senses said it has pledged to:
- Eliminate remaining unnecessary plastic packaging from its rooms and bathrooms by 2022.
- Eliminate all unnecessary plastic packaging from service areas by 2022.
- Introduce more reusable solutions in kitchens to replace unnecessary plastic packaging (cling film and plastic packaging of fresh products) by 2022.
- Introduce reusable solutions in service areas (host shops) to replace single-use packaging by 2022.
- Source naturally compostable packing and other materials where appropriate.
- Work with suppliers to avoid plastic packaging, source plastic-free alternative products, and arrange packaging take-back programs wherever possible.
- Work with other hotels and industry partners to share best practices, supplier recommendations, and other information to help the industry move away from plastic.
- Sort all waste materials, upcycling or composting when possible on site, sending to offsite recycling where available – all with the aim of zero waste to landfill.
Featured image source: Six Senses
