News

St. John’s Cinnamon Bay Has Big Green Plans

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - August 30, 2017 - 1:18 pm

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Cinnamon Bay, the campground and resort located on Cinnamon Bay Beach on the island of St. John, has unveiled a 10-year environmental plan for the property’s future.

With a system of environmental initiatives newly in place, and with more in the works, Cinnamon Bay says it is committed to ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty and that of neighboring Trunk Bay.

“We believe that operating with a light environmental footprint is essential to protecting Virgin Islands National Park,” said Cinnamon Bay General Manager Charles Willis.  “Recognizing our company’s role as stewards in the Park, we are committed to continual environmental progress.”

Cinnamon Bay’s 10-year environmental goals revolve around three priorities: to protect the beach, water quality and local coral reefs; to reduce their carbon footprint; and to reduce solid waste.

Initiatives addressing the first of these goals have already begun, including a “Leave-No-Trace” campaign.

The property also sells reef-healthy sunscreens that do not contain oxybenzone, a chemical which causes reef bleaching and damages ocean ecosystems.

To reduce the property’s carbon footprint, Cinnamon Bay has replaced all incandescent lights with LED light across the resort, and buys EnergyStar rated equipment, which is proven to use less energy than federal standards require.

The resort works with Gift Hill School, a local school in Cruz Bay, to produce compost for community gardens.

Acknowledging the importance of education in achieving environmental goals, Cinnamon Bay hosts a weekly guest speaker series focused on coral reef protection, biodiversity, ecological preservation and island wildlife.

To reduce solid waste, the resort has enacted several initiatives including a ban of Styrofoam at Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay.

The restaurants on property use biodegradable to-go containers and serve beer only on-tap which eliminates thousands of pounds of glass which is not recyclable on St. John.

“Each year we will measure our environmental progress and compare it to our year one benchmark,” said Willis. “In the coming years we have plans to implement new initiatives which will go even further to lessen our environmental footprint.”

Environmental plans for the coming years include offering reduced rates and preferred booking to college groups hosting biology and environmental studies field trips at Cinnamon Bay.

The resort also plans to install hydration stations in public areas, encourage reusable water bottles and generate more than 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic panels.

Popular Posts st kitts fortress

The Caribbean’s Hottest New Restaurant Is at a Centuries-Old Fortress in St Kitts

It’s one of the most stunning locations in the Caribbean: Brimstone Hill, the towering fortress in the mountains of St Kitts, a centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site.  And now it’s the home of the hottest new restaurant in the Caribbean.  […]


Jamaica Just Got an Upgraded US Travel Advisory: “A Great Step Forward” 

seven mile beach white sand

Last year’s US Travel Advisory led to a slowdown in tourist arrivals to Jamaica. But in what’s hoped to be a major shift, the US State Department just upgraded Jamaica’s rating.  Jamaica’s travel advisory has improved from Level 3 to […]


Martinique: The Caribbean Island Most Americans Still Overlook

caribbean island american's haven't discovered

The beaches. The food. The rainforests. The bakeries. The art. The Caribbean island of Martinique remains one of the great undiscovered destinations in the region for American travelers, and now it has regular flights this summer from Miami. Americans, you […]


Related Posts sean paul st john

Sean Paul Headlining St. John Celebration 2025: Full Music Lineup Revealed

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and its Division of Festivals have confirmed that Grammy-winning Jamaican music legend Sean Paul will top the bill for the 2025 St. John Celebration Village Nights, a six-night concert series set to run June — […]


My Favorite St. Thomas Beach Has White Sand and No Crowds

beach in st thomas

You turn off the East End road, pass the small ranger shack at Smith Bay Park, and the trees part to reveal Lindquist’s slim half-mile of sand—nearly white in the shade, faintly pink where the sun hits it.  This entire […]


The Crystal-Clear Montego Bay Beach Locals Say Has Healing Powers

montego bay jamaica beach

You arrive early. That’s the move here. Doctor’s Cave Beach opens at 8:30 a.m., and by then the sand has already been raked, the chairs are in rows, and the water is still glass. You step through the entrance on Jimmy […]