Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed) Launches a Guide for Hoteliers to Reduce Their Environmental Footprint
Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed), an association dedicated to combating plastic pollution in the Mediterranean, has launched a guide designed for hoteliers looking to minimize the environmental impact of their operations.
Titled « Towards a Zero Single-Use Plastic Hotel: A Successful Transition », the guide outlines steps to eliminate unnecessary plastics that could pollute the environment while strengthening the eco-responsible commitment of hospitality establishments, BeMed stated in a press release.
By removing certain unnecessary plastics, hotels can cut costs on procurement and waste management, enhance their competitiveness, and reduce plastic waste leakage into the environment—helping to preserve the beauty of tourist destinations.
The publication of this guide follows the pilot project « Towards a Zero Single-Use Plastic Hotel », first implemented in a hotel in Marseille, France, and later successfully adapted in a hotel in Hammamet, Tunisia.
BeMed plans to launch a working group soon to collectively support hoteliers in reducing their use of single-use plastics.
A training session will be organized for each key step of the transition process. Each session will feature a presentation of the method, practical advice, tools, and a live demonstration of their use.
Every year, over 229,000 tons of plastic waste are dumped into the Mediterranean, threatening the beauty of tourist destinations and the overall visitor experience, according to BeMed.
In Tunisia alone, the amount of mismanaged plastic waste is estimated at 55.5 kilotons (kt) per year. Additionally, the daily amount of plastic washing up on Tunisia’s shores reaches 9.5 kilograms, totaling 5.9 kt per year, according to the same source, which cites a 2021 World Bank report.
Founded in 2015 at the initiative of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in partnership with the MAVA Foundation, Surfrider Europe Foundation, Tara Ocean Foundation, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), BeMed aims to develop and coordinate a network of local actors committed to fighting plastic pollution.
The goal is to foster the sharing of experiences and knowledge while strengthening the effectiveness of actions across the Mediterranean region.
Source: africanmanager
