Solving the Menace of Single Use Plastic in Tourism Industry – the Case of Angama Mara

Abstract

Tourism is one of the major drivers of Kenya’s economy. Over the years, communities living around tourist destinations in the country have derived a wide array of benefits such as: improvement of schools’ infrastructure, increased access to health services, increased water supply and access to ready markets for their products such as beadworks among many others. Development benefits aside, tourism has also had adverse impacts on the environment and human health and safety in the form of increased waste generation, air pollution and water pollution. The onus is therefore on tourism industry players such as accommodations to adopt transformative approaches to minimize these impacts, and create real and long-lasting difference in sustainability. The good news is that ecorated facilities are already leading the way in reducing their foot print on the environment. This week’s article will focus on the menace of single-use plastics, and highlight the sustainable alternatives and measures that the Gold-rated Angama Mara has integrated in its operations to address this challenge.