Under its Plastics Reduction Programme, by the end of March 2019 MSC Cruises will now effectively phase out an extensive number of plastic items from all its ship operations and ashore, and will replace them with environmentally friendly solutions. As a first step, the Company has already taken action to replace all plastic straws with 100% compostable and biodegradable substitutes by the end of 2018.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said it was their mission to provide guests with the best holiday experiences at sea in a sustainable way.

“We are on an ongoing journey to reduce the environmental impact of our ships in operation. The imminent elimination of single-use plastic items from across our entire fleet globally is an additional step that we are taking in that direction.
“More importantly, under our global environmental stewardship programme, it represents yet another step in our overall commitment to conserve and protect our planet’s most precious resource: the seas and the oceans,” he said.

Throughout the years, MSC Cruises has taken voluntary steps to uphold this commitment under its global environmental stewardship programme. Through a series of previous actions, all MSC Cruises ships have been systematically readied for this programme and are equipped with state-of-the-art recycling facilities and efficient waste management systems. All crew are engaged in the Company-wide effort to separate and handle waste in accordance with regulatory MARPOL requirements and CLIA’s sound environmental principles to prevent marine pollution. Their efforts are closely monitored by a comprehensive and coherent system to manage and control all environmental aspects on board and ashore. An empowered team of dedicated Environmental Officers across the fleet makes sure the Company’s policies and vision are effectively implemented. Through a robust training programme, the Company continually strives to raise the bar in this field and achieve improved waste management and recycling practices.

In order to meet and exceed its environmental objectives, MSC Cruises is now also in the process of eliminating virtually all single-use plastics from its fleet and shoreside operations. By March 2019, all single-use plastic items – such as shopping bags, spoons, glasses and stirrers –for which substitution is available will be permanently phased out and replaced by environmentally friendly alternatives. Packaging from single-portion items such as buttercups, jams or yoghurts will be removed and processes will be optimized to provide guest-friendly and convenient solutions.

MSC Cruises will only provide fully biodegradable and compostable straws onboard its ships and ashore by the end of this year. Moreover, drinks will no longer automatically be served with a straw, a measure which will see the overall consumption of straws reduce by 50%. Guests who may require a straw will still have a variety of environmentally friendly options available. This practice also extends to the Company’s island destinations, all shore-based offices and the shore excursions MSC Cruises offers.

Ross Volk, Managing Director MSC Cruises South Africa, said the cruise industry has been making big strides to remove single-use plastic items from their operations.

“The depth and diligence of this programme is exceptional and unique: it is not only about single-use plastic straws, or small ‘visible’ restaurant items. The programme also looks at eliminating all ‘invisible’ single-use plastic items from the entire supply chain – and replacing them with sustainable alternatives when available.
“Single-use plastics simply don’t belong at sea and we don’t want them on any of our ships anymore,” he said.

This eco-conscious shift will become a brand standard across all Protea Hotels by Marriott and Protea Hotels Fire & Ice! by Marriott. The brand recently introduced Vivreau Water at all Protea Hotels by Marriott to limit the use of plastic water bottles.

The announcement comes close on the heels of Marriott International’s announcement to remove disposable plastic straws and plastic stirrers from its more than 6,500 properties across 30 brands around the world. Once fully implemented in one year, the company could eliminate the use of more than 1 billion plastic straws per year and about a quarter billion stirrers.

Because they are small items, the control of where plastic straws end up is difficult. Plastic waste is turning oceans into death pools. A single plastic straw – which might be used for about 15 minutes – will never fully decompose. Biodegradable straws on the other hand are 100% compostable, taking 9-12 weeks to compost. And they are not just waste: they can be reused to feed plants as they’re naturally organic.

Despite the biodegradable straws being a more expensive alternative, Protea Hotels by Marriott has chosen to go this route as it believes this is the right thing to do.

The bio straw selected by the brand is 8mm in thickness, which is larger than the current straws in use. As such, it allows for a range of uses, including being both a straw and a swizzle stick. They are green in colour to give a natural feel and look. The straw is made of polylactic acid (PLA), which is essentially starch from mealie cobs and other plant sources. The brand may introduce other variants in the future.

Some of the other Marriott International Hotels including Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers, The Westin Cape Town, African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel, Autograph Collection,African Pride Arabella Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection, African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection, African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel, Autograph Collection, African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa, Autograph Collection, will also join Protea Hotels by Marriott in this drive.

The ban was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in early June and will include straws used in cocktails and other drinks. However, the ban will exempt plastic straws attached to juice packets.

A provisional study conducted in 2016 found that plastic waste makes up nearly 30% of all waste of Seychelles’ landfills. Additionally, the Seychelles government reports it is spending hundreds of millions of rupees on solid waste management for de-littering rivers and marshes from all types of waste including plastics.

In September 2016, the Cabinet announced that it will join the likes of Rwanda, Bangladesh and Madagascar in implementing a ban on the use and importation of items such plastic bags, cups, cutlery and Styrofoam packaging in an effort to cut down on waste in the Seychelles, which will now be extended to single use plastic straws.

“Retailers have been given to January 2019 to use their existing stock of plastic straws,” says Nanette Laure, Director General at the Waste Enforcement and Permit Division of the Department of Environment.

“We are going to start an intensive education programme as we also need to present importers with alternatives rather than just stating that we are imposing a ban,” she adds.

Laure says that there are alternatives such as those made with bamboo and paper which could be imported and that despite the alternatives being more expensive, it will have a long-term benefit, as it will cost less to remove it in the environment.

The Waste Enforcement and Permit Division of the Department of Environment will now draft regulations that will guide the ban just like the one imposed on plastic bags.

Lena Horeau, PR Manager for the Seychelles Tourism Board adds that while it Seychelles’ drive to go plastic-free initially seemed like an impossible task, the Seychelles has been quick to come up with creative solutions with some even finding opportunity in the decision.

“Some of these initiatives includes the manufacturing of biodegradable carrier bags and importing biodegradable takeaway boxes, cutlery, cake boxes and paper bags.”

“While there has been some cost implication to consumables, most residents and even visitors have agreed that it is a small price to pay in conserving the island destination,” says Horeau.

According to the hotel the initiative will see it use only biodegradable straws in future future to only use biodegradable straws, which falls in line with its environmental and sustainability strategy. The strategy has also already involved ground-breaking initiatives to reduce water consumption and the hotel has become the first hotel in Cape Town to use seawater in their swimming pool.

To focus consumer attention on the issue of plastic straws and its effect on the environment, the hotel plans to use only paper straws from this month onwards. Other measures to raise consumer awareness will include displays and signage in public areas, with the tagline #refusethestraw.

Commenting on the initiative, Angus Spurr, the food and drinks manager for Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, said: “This is an important initiative. Straws rank in the top five of plastic junk found in the oceans – 90% of waste in the ocean is plastic.

“It’s our aim to conduct business more responsibly, especially environmentally, and we’ll continue to take initiatives such as this.”