Solution Scope: Initiatives for the Private Sector (certification programme)

Target Contaminant: Plastics (focus on single-use products, SUPs)

Solution Provider or Contact Point: Consortium led by Save the Med Foundation  

Project: Plastic Free Balearics Programme

ITS Description:The Plastic Free Balearics program is a certification initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste in the hospitality sector throughout the Balearic Islands. It encourages and recognizes businesses (such as restaurants, bars, and hotels) that replace single-use plastic products with environmentally friendly alternatives, referred by the members as “honest alternatives”. The program offers resources and support, including a comprehensive guide to assist businesses in identifying and transitioning to sustainable options. It relies on a “Honest Alternatives to Plastic Index” (H.A.P.I.) to ensure that the alternative products that companies choose for the removal and replacement of their single use plastics are truly better for the environment than the original items. Certified establishments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars based on their efforts to reduce plastic and implement reusable alternatives. This collaborative effort is backed by the Balearic government, island councils, and various hospitality associations, showcasing a united front against plastic pollution in the region. Since its launch in 2021, the program has certified 49 establishments, resulting in an estimated reduction of 6 tonnes of plastic waste from their supply chains.

Correspondence with BMM OIR (sectoral priorities, R&I activities, gaps, needs): The ITS responds to an action gap in implementing new eco-labelling programs for minimization of plastic pollution. It provides a solution to the Policy Challenge of the BMM OIR for facilitating the transition of the sector for tourism businesses, including new certification schemes for pursuing sustainable practices.