By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sandals Resorts International is making a push to eliminate single-use plastics across its regional portfolio, the company said this week.

The company said all 19 Sandals and Beaches resorts across seven Caribbean islands would be eliminating the 21,490,800 single-use plastic straws and stirrers used across the resorts each year by Nov. 1.

Eco-friendly paper straws will be available on request, however.

“Love is at the crux of all Sandals Resorts, and this love extends to the oceans and communities around them,” said Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “We care deeply about our commitment to preserving both marine wildlife and human health within the many beautiful islands we’re connected to. Eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers is only the beginning of our journey toward helping create a plastic-free sea in the region we call home.”

Sandals also announced a partnership with Oceanic Global, a nonprofit focused on issues that impact marine areas, to conduct an audit for both the front and back of house to determine a roadmap to eliminate all single-use plastic across its resorts.

It said it would be exploring opportunities to eliminate other plastics across its resorts by 2019.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Sandals Resorts International, the first all-inclusive brand to join our mission,” said Lea d’Auriol, Founder of Oceanic Global. “Seventy percent of our world is made up of oceans. It’s critical that we take steps to protect this precious resource – and Sandals is sending the message to companies with a major presence along ocean shores that they have a responsibility to take action, and that preserving ocean health can be both efficient and effective.”

— CJ