The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses, governments and other tourism stakeholders to lead by example in the shift towards a circular economy.
Over 120 organizations have become signatories and disclosed their ambitious commitments toward the elimination of unnecessary single-use plastics, transition to reuse models and use of reusable items.
Plastic Smart Cities is now collaborating with the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative to launch a pilot in the city of Venice. The Venice pilot will help to identify key needs that destinations have in terms of engaging with tourists, accommodation providers and other entities, and what support destinations can offer to businesses (accommodation providers, tour operators, suppliers, etc.) and supporting organizations (NGOs, business associations, academia, etc.) to better address local plastic challenges.
The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative supports its signatories by sharing knowledge and resources to better implement their commitments; fostering collaboration across stakeholders in the value chain to advance towards a circular economy for plastics; consolidating the progress reported by all signatories; and bringing visibility to the actions taken by signatories.
UNWTO and UNEP are leading the implementation of the Initiative in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and with the support from an Advisory Group. The Initiative is developed within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme.
Pending the outcomes of the pilot in Venice, other Plastic Smart Cities and tourist destinations may soon also join the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative.
