Celebrating One Year of Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Hotels Program
September 10th marks the one-year anniversary of Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Hotels Program—an exciting extension of the nationally recognized Ocean Friendly Restaurants initiative. This program highlights hotels and lodging establishments that are taking meaningful steps to reduce single-use plastics and adopt sustainable practices that protect our ocean.
The more we grow our network of Ocean Friendly businesses, the closer we get to making plastic-free living the norm.
Program Highlights and Impact
In just one year, the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program has made significant strides:
– 30 hotels have joined the program
– Ocean Friendly Hotels are now located in 7 states and territories: Alaska, New York, California, Washington, Florida, Oregon, Hawai‘i, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
– Participating hotels are saving an estimated 1.2 million plastic water bottles and 1.8 million mini plastic toiletry bottles annually
Meet the Ocean Friendly Hotels
Our network includes a diverse mix of lodging types—from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to bed and breakfasts, lodges, and even campgrounds. These establishments are united by a shared commitment to sustainability and ocean health. Click the image in the original article to explore some of our participating hotels.
What Makes a Hotel Ocean Friendly?
To qualify, hotels must meet a set of criteria focused on:
– Reducing single-use plastics
– Conserving water
– Improving energy efficiency
– Minimizing light pollution
– And more
These standards help create a community of environmentally responsible hotels that Surfrider chapters can support and promote. They also serve as models for broader adoption of sustainable business practices and future legislation.
Supporting Policy for Plastic Reduction
Surfrider chapters in Hawai‘i have actively supported legislation such as HB348 and SB670, which aimed to phase out mini plastic toiletry bottles in hotels. These bills proposed replacing single-use plastic packaging with bulk dispensers or non-plastic alternatives. Although the legislation did not pass, Surfrider Hawai‘i cited the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program in their testimony, emphasizing its alignment with the proposed regulations. Efforts to pass similar legislation will continue.
Plan Your Stay at an Ocean Friendly Hotel
Planning a trip? Choose to stay at an Ocean Friendly Hotel and support businesses that are making conscious choices for the planet. Be sure to let them know you appreciate their commitment to sustainability!
Looking Ahead
Surfrider’s goal is to grow the program to 100 hotels by 2029. Achieving this would prevent over 4 million plastic water bottles and 6 million mini toiletry bottles from entering landfills and polluting our oceans every year. Additionally, we aim to collaborate with these hotels to champion policies that reduce single-use plastics across the hospitality industry.
Join the Movement
Know a hotel that would be a great fit for the program? Encourage them to sign up and become part of the solution.
Want to support Surfrider’s mission to stop plastic pollution at the source? Consider making a donation today.
Together, we can protect our ocean—one hotel at a time.
Source: surfrider.org