Phasing out problematic single-use plastic items
Campaign

 

 

100,000

PEOPLE REACHED

The campaign has now reached over 100,000 people in the Philippines

WHAT?

The campaign aims to reduce the use of single-use plastics in the tourism industry and to improve plastics management by replacing and recycling plastic products.

 

 

WHY?

 

  • Almost 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year.
  • Only 9% of total produced plastic has been recycled, 12% has been incinerated and the remaining 79% has ended up in landfills or in the environment.
  • The Caribbean has rich biodiversity and natural wealth resources that contribute significantly to the economy.
  • The Caribbean Sea is home to more than 700 islands/coastal countries and is the lifeblood of the region’s tourism, maritime industries and fisheries.
  • The Caribbean Sea faces increased threat from land and marine based pollution, particularly pollution from plastics.
  • In addition to current waste management issues, ocean currents bring additional plastics.
  • Countries face difficulties finding economically feasible solutions for dealing with plastic waste.
  • Plastic waste will cause negative effects for marine, ecosystems, ecosystem services, fisheries, transport, recreation, tourism, local societies and economies.
  • The tourism industry contributes to 40% of marine plastic waste.
  • Large amounts of plastic cause burden on an already strained waste management issue in Caribbean SIDs.
  • Tourism land-based excursions, cruise lines among other tourism business rely on single-use plastics in their operations
  • Most islands in the Caribbean have issues to cope with the lack of infra-structure for recycling