We’re all well aware of the dangers of plastic pollution, especially in our oceans.
According to UNESCO, plastic debris is responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 marine mammals and over one million seabirds every year.
Then there was the shocking story of a young whale that had washed up dead in the Philippines. Cause of death: gastric shock from ingesting 40kg of plastic.
While there’s plenty we can do as individuals to help reduce plastic waste, it’s also up to companies, organisations and governments to be more sustainable too.
More and more hotels are embracing environmentally friendly initiatives, including implementing energy and water-saving systems as well as better recycling and waste programs.
Feed Goby the Fish
One of the hotels in Bali that’s leading the sustainability charge is W Bali – Seminyak. The hotel recently launched a new waste reduction project named ‘Feed Goby the Fish’.
Goby is a huge, transparent fish crafted from metal installed on W Bali’s beachfront. The idea is for visitors to dispose of their plastic rubbish by ‘feeding Goby’. Seeing the amount of plastic inside will hopefully raise awareness of the vast plastic pollution issue. Every night, the fish is emptied and the rubbish is taken to the appropriate recycling facilities.
The Goby the Fish project joins W Bali – Seminyak’s existing sustainability initiatives, such as regular intense beach cleaning sessions. The hotel has also been working for 5 years to be EarthCheck certified every year. It achieved this by reducing waste, energy and water consumption and following strict recycling practices.
Indonesia is one of the largest contributors to marine plastic pollution in the world after China.
In 2017, it pledged to reduce the waste in its waters by 70% by 2025. December 2018 saw a huge step in the right direction for Bali, when the island’s governor announced a ban on single-use plastic, including styrofoam, plastic straws and plastic bags.
A large-scale initiative like this is a big win for the environment. With the help of hotels and resorts like W Bali – Seminyak, as well as the locals and the millions of tourists who visit each year alike, hopefully, the future is looking a little cleaner for the world’s oceans and the many lives that rely on them.
