As a signatory of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, Six Senses furthers its commitment to eliminating, innovating and circulating its use of plastics by 2025, although the brand is on its way to being plastic-free in 2022.
According to Six Senses, sustainability is the only choice in a shared world of limited natural resources and fragile ecosystems. "It demands doing what is right rather than what is easy," the company said in a statement.
"This strategy is based on the life cycle assessment of plastics and understanding the impact these products have on the environment from fossil fuel extraction through to disposal. It’s an approach that focuses on upstream suppliers, seeking innovative solutions and promoting a de-plasticised lifestyle by providing more sustainable alternatives," the company said.
Under the Global Tourism Plastics initiative, Six Senses has pledged to:
- Eliminate remaining unnecessary plastic packaging from our rooms and bathrooms by 2022.
- Eliminate all unnecessary plastic packaging from service areas by 2022.
- Introduce more reusable solutions in kitchens to replace unnecessary plastic packaging (cling film and plastic packaging of fresh products) by 2022.
- Introduce reusable solutions in service areas (host shops) to replace single-use packaging by 2022.
- Source naturally compostable packing and other materials where appropriate.
- Work with suppliers to avoid plastic packaging, source plastic-free alternative products, and arrange packaging take-back programs wherever possible.
- Work with other hotels and industry partners to share best practices, supplier recommendations, and other information to help the industry move away from plastic.
- Sort all waste materials, upcycling or composting when possible on site, sending to offsite recycling where available - all with the aim of zero waste to landfill.
Six Senses is already committed to:
- Eliminating all plastics from its operations by the year 2022, with priority on single-use plastics and going beyond that to remove 100% virgin plastic sourcing.
- Zero waste to landfills as a general goal for all Six Senses resorts.
- Continuing its policy of no single-use shampoo and amenity bottles, plastic water bottles and plastic straws.
“The travel industry is growing at a rapid rate on a planet that has limited natural resources. That means all hospitality leaders have a responsibility to stand up and be accountable for making a sustainable difference and achieving measurable results. Our health and wellness ethos is around making our guests feel better inside and out, so it makes sense for our social and environmental policies to make them feel good about their choice of vacation and their impact on the ecosystems around them too,” said Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Sense Hotels Resorts Spas.
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas manages 15 hotels and resorts and 28 spas in 20 countries under the brand names Six Senses, Evason and Six Senses Spas, and has signed a further 27 properties into the development pipeline. Six Senses is part of the IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) family.
*As of June 2020
The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative is developed by the Sustainable Tourism Programme of the One Planet network, a multi-stakeholder partnership to implement SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production. The Global Tourism Plastic Initiative acts as the tourism interface of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
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| Source: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. A plastic-free table setting with a glass water bottle and two glasses. |
By taking serious action in a coordinated and determined manner on plastic pollution, the tourism sector can help preserve and protect the places and wildlife that make destinations worth visiting.
