The production of single-use plastic relies on fossil fuels and is a significant contributor to climate change, which negatively impacts the environment and society in many ways.
Chemicals used in the production of plastic are contaminating rivers, streams and oceans in many parts of the world, directly impacting upon the health of the people that live there, and it is now widely accepted that microplastics have infiltrated the human food chain, the impacts of which are still unknown.
Much of the world’s plastic products are not actually recyclable, in countries with a poor waste infrastructure, plastic is often burned causing significant respiratory issues and the informal waste sector is made up of many women who work in dangerous conditions, often whilst carrying infants on their back.
To overcome these issues, we need to significantly reduce reliance on the take-make-waste economy that so negatively impacts people and environments.
the impact
Just one average size (150 bedrooms) hotel offering all-inclusive can consume over 500,000 single-use plastic products every single year.
Single use plastic is convenient and cheap, it has a significant presence in the tourism industry.
Hotels and other tourism businesses depend on clean, litter free environments for their success, yet many tourism businesses continue to contribute to the problem rather than the solution.
Tourists are increasingly aware of the impacts of travel and are looking to book and stay with businesses who care about the environment.
SUP-Free helps businesses to do this and to communicate their efforts.