Pilot project succeeds in reducing single-use plastics in Cyprus resorts

Four five-star resorts in Cyprus have reduced the consumption and disposal of single-use plastics in the past two years through the SUPMed European project, Cyprus hotels association (Pasyxe) announced on Friday.

Since July 2020, ten tourist accommodations in Cyprus, Greece and Malta have been working together under the pilot project aiming to reduce the use of single-use plastics (SUP).

The project provided innovative and sustainable solutions for the facilities to easily reduce the consumption, disposal, and impact of SUPs in the tourism sector in these three regions, in line with a relevant EU directive.

“The results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed recommendations and the overall success of the project,” Pasyxe said. The methodology, the contribution of the pilot tourist facilities, the impact of single-use plastics on the environment and human health and other relevant information are provided in the Best Practice Guide, the association said.

Under the project, partners support coastal tourist accommodations through pilot applications for the transition to sustainable business models. These models will identify and replace the most commonly used single-use plastics in each participating tourist accommodation with more environmentally friendly, readily available and affordable alternatives.

“Tourism establishments across Europe can benefit from the results and deliverables of the project, helping them to reduce their consumption and disposal of single-use plastics, and guiding their transition towards a more environmentally sustainable management,” Pasyxe added.

Furthermore, the association said the project will help ensure that their operations comply with the requirements outlined in EU legislation on the use of single-use plastics (SUP).

The project will run until June 2023 with a total budget of €1,279,405 and is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. The six partners involved in the implementation of the project are Aspon Consulting Ltd as lead partner, Cellock Ltd and the Pancyprian Hotel Association from Cyprus, the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Anelixis Development Consultants S.S.A. from Greece and AIS Environment from Malta.

The accommodations concern GrandResort, Atlantica Mare Village Ayia Napa, Radisson Blue Hotel and The Royal Apollonia in Cyprus, Elounda Palm Hotel & Suites, Infinity Blue Boutique Hotel & Spa and Paralos Lifestyle Beach in Crete and Hilton Malta, 1926 Hotel & Spa and Mellieha Holiday Centre in Malta.