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Philippine’s hotel collaborates with UNEP to phase out single-use plastic products
Club Paradise Palawan Hotel in the Philippines works closely with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to phase out single-use plastic products and raise awareness of the issue among its guests through the Transforming Tourism project campaign, Phasing Out Problematic Single-Use Plastics.
Familiar with the challenges of sourcing large quantities of eco-friendly products while also remaining within a limited budget, hotel manager Joegil Magtanggol describes the transition as a series of “small steps.”
But these small steps have had a big impact. The hotel now furnishes guests with Australian-sourced food-grade bath amenities in refillable pumps; packages takeaway meals in boxes made from biodegradable materials like cassava starch; sources and purifies its own still and sparkling water and serves it in reusable glass bottles.
In addition to eliminating the need to purchase bottled water, the overall reduction in disposable amenities means that there is also less waste – and fewer expenses for its removal from the island. Moreover, added Magtanggol, while the immediate overhead costs may be greater, “the long-term effect on the protection of the environment is worth every cent.”
For Club Paradise Palawan, the water and shores surrounding its location on the Philippine island of Dimakya are among its most valuable assets. By helping to conserve the marine ecosystem, the hotel is also protecting the spectacular coral reef for which the area is renowned – and continues to attract divers from all parts of the world.
Dimakya island lies within the UNESCO biosphere reserve. So reducing plastic waste is not just idealistic; it’s also pragmatic. “The best way to amplify this unique selling proposition is to ensure the island is kept clean, green and sustainable,” said Magtanggol.
And guest experiences stand as evidence. In 2020, a particularly challenging year for tourism, the hotel was awarded as a Sustainable Destination and named Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice: Best of the Best.
Through the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by UNEP and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, governments, industry and citizens are taking action to reduce plastic pollution and participate in the move towards circularity.
This partnership is part of the systemic change sought by the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to support the travel and tourism sector in joining these global efforts. Over 500 institutions and businesses representing more than 20 percent of the plastic packaging used globally and governments from five continents are already delivering on this commitment through concerted actions.
“Rethinking our habits – particularly our use of single-use plastic products – is not a matter of change at one hotel or even in one industry. Instead, it requires the support of every stakeholder, from governments, policymakers, business owners and consumers,” he said.
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