Impact of single-use plastics associated with tourism
At the beginning of this pandemic we saw with astonishment a small respite that the confinement gave to the planet, thanks to the restrictions of mobilization that decreased flights and transportation we saw a decrease in air pollution in some cities. But that joy was short-lived as we soon saw the negative side of the pandemic on the environment, an excessive increase in single-use plastic products, not only masks and associated gloves but also bags and packaging due to the high demand for take-out meals.
Waste from single-use plastic products has increased at a worrying rate. Source: pxhere.com.
And as many countries are reopening their borders and showing signs of recovery from this devastating pandemic, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a new report that addresses the complex situation surrounding single-use plastic products in travel and tourism; as we all know, a large amount of disposable water bottles, bags and toiletry containers associated with travel end up polluting beaches and parks in the absence of proper management.
Well, this United Nations report appears at this time to start tracking the use of single-use plastic products in the travel and tourism industry and determine their importance in the value chain of this sector, with the purpose of identifying the points that represent a waste leakage and generate the necessary strategies for their control by companies and other responsible parties.
The main objective of this report is to provide assistance to responsible parties to join efforts in the implementation of coordinated actions leading to reduction and reuse models. The main recommendations of the report point out which single-use plastic products are unnecessary in the context of the companies themselves and how to give preference to suppliers of reusable products, in addition to encouraging innovation in the design of service models where the consumption of disposable plastics is as reduced as possible, on the other hand, it is also recommended to design strategies to avoid raising again the consumption of disposable plastic products in the case of outbreaks of new diseases.
It is necessary to control this type of waste in the tourism sector since it accumulates and contaminates the environment. Source: pxhere.com.
The authors point out that this pandemic has shown that urgent action is needed and that this very situation has accelerated the sustainability agenda, so that companies and policy makers must pay more attention to it. Their priority now is for companies to reduce the generation of single-use plastic product waste and drive circularity.
The volume of waste derived from single-use plastic items has increased, as safety is the main concern of tourists, and the use of take-away food service is also on the rise. But this type of material is very hazardous to the health of people and the environment, and we can only see solutions that contribute significantly to solving the problem if the responsible sectors unify their efforts. A unified effort among the different responsible sectors can and will contribute significantly to solving this problem.
At the very least, this report recognizes the need for global solutions to address the problem, and offers important recommendations for responsible actors in the tourism industry to take the lead in shifting to a greener model to control waste streams of single-use plastic products, placing more value on reuse and circularity in their processes.
Thanks for coming by to read friends, I hope you liked the information. See you next time.
Hello @emiliomoron
Good topic "TOURISM", it is unfortunate that there are tourist areas generally coastal areas where strategies are not taken to collect the plastic that harms this profitable tourist activity in Venezuela happens a lot. When you say "It is necessary to control this type of waste in the tourism sector as it accumulates and pollutes the environment", and I would add the economic sector as a potential affected.
Best regards, be well.
Greetings friend. It is certainly unfortunate that in our parks and beaches there are no adequate strategies for waste management, nor that tourists are aware of the damage they cause. Really in the end the same sector is harmed.
Certainly the tourist activity is what most affects the use of plastic, for example in our country most of the hotels are on the seashore, so it is logical to think that all that plastic is going to give the ocean.
Greetings friend @emiliomoron and thank you for your valuable contribution.
This kind of study can make change when it will go through many readers. it is high time to take action on one time use products.
That's right my friend, we need to join efforts and become aware of the damage caused by this type of product.
Hello @emiliomoron, I believe that this overproduction of single-use plastic waste not only occurs in the tourism sector, it also occurs in large cities where disposable containers mark the trend in the food sector.
Knowing the dimension of the problem, great solutions must also emerge, one of them would be the massive use of this waste but for example, in a country like Venezuela, recycling costs could be higher than the production costs themselves, and this it would be a great obstacle to face.
Great post.
Hi friend @tocho2, you are right, part of the problem is that this type of product is cheaper to make than to recycle, that hinders the development of appropriate strategies because the economic factor will always be decisive.
The pandemic had increased plastic waste products because alot of people now order for food without having to go to the eatery and people who go want it packed so that they can take it home.