Having removed plastic straws from its eight Asian resorts, all-inclusive holiday resort operator Club Med has doubled-down, pledging to remove single-use plastic straws from all of its resorts globally by next year.
The pledge extends to 68 resorts worldwide and marks the next step in Club Med’s global environmental sustainability and social initiatives. Under the newly implemented ‘Request a Straw’ program, drinks are served without a straw and if requested, are provided with a paper straw. The policy has seen Club Med Phuket cut its straw usage by over 1,000 straws per day.
Club Med’s green pledge aims to promote to guests the repercussions of excessive use of plastics in the environment. This campaign has also seen 74% of Club Med resorts around the world achieve ‘Green Globe Certification’ and work is underway to see that number reach 100%. This certification is the highest standard of metrics on which a resort can test its green credentials.
A number of other green initiatives are currently underway in Club Med resorts around the world, including Club Med Finolhu Villas, which draws 100% of its power from the sun via over 6,000sqm of solar panels. The resort also employs the services of Winnow, which has helped Club Med Bali reduce its food waste by 56%. This program is now being expanded to other resorts across Indonesia.
Staff and resort guests are also engaging in optional beach clean-ups in collaboration with nearby resorts. Last week, staff and guests at Club Med Bintan picked up over 450kgs of trash from beaches around the island.
Club Med General Manager Pacific, Rachael Harding, said the moments of happiness the resort operator delivers to its guests cannot come at the expense of the environment.
“This mantra is considered throughout the entire process from location scouting, construction, biodiversity protection, food and water consumption, staffing, and educating our guests.”
“This recent initiative, first focusing on Asia and then globally, is putting a firm foot forward in our commitment toward environmental conservation. We feel it is our responsibility to educate and inspire as a committed sustainable resort group,” Harding added.