Wyndham Destinations to eliminate plastic straws and single-use plastic at its timeshare resorts around the world
Global initiative will eliminate more than 1.1 million plastic straws annually; Company to host cleanup activities for timeshare owners and guests on International Coastal Cleanup Day Sept. 21
ORLANDO, Fla., 2019-Sep-20 — /Travel PR News/ — In conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day, Wyndham Destinations (NYSE:WYND), the world’s largest vacation ownership and exchange company, announced today (Sept. 19, 2019) it would eliminate plastic straws and other single-use plastic from food and beverage operations at its timeshare resorts around the world.
To support the company’s environmental sustainability initiatives, Wyndham Destinations’ vacation club resorts plan to remove single-use plastic straws starting Oct. 1, 2019. The effort will eliminate more than 750,000 single-use plastic straws in North America alone and 1.1 million across the globe. Earlier this year, the company’s Asia Pacific resorts removed disposable straws from 33 managed resorts.
“The switch to biodegradable or paper straws is a small, but impactful change we can make for our environment, and aligns with our company’s efforts to support sustainable tourism,” said Geoff Richards, chief operating officer of Wyndham Vacation Clubs. “By engaging and empowering both our associates and customers to understand sustainability-based best practices, we are cultivating a culture which prioritizes minimizing our environmental footprint and raising the health of our people and our communities.”
Single-use plastic straws, which are generally only used for about 15 minutes, never fully decompose and are one of the top 10 items found on beach clean-ups globally.
The company also announced it has developed a plan to eliminate plastic cups and lids, Styrofoam to-go boxes, plastic cutlery, and plastic to-go bags across the company’s managed resort locations. This initiative will eliminate more than 4.8 million single-use products by the end of 2020.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the company will host organized cleanup opportunities at many of its resorts in coastal communities around the world for employees and resort guests to help remove plastic and other trash from important waterways.
This year, the company produced its first Social Responsibility Report, including an environmental sustainability policy which affirms Wyndham Destinations’ commitment to reduce the environmental impacts associated with its operations and supply chain. As a new company, Wyndham Destinations is building on the sustainability efforts undertaken while it was a part of Wyndham Worldwide and is seeking to measurably reduce its energy, emissions, water, and waste footprint.
For example, many of the company’s managed vacation club resorts are enrolled in a national program that includes enhanced education, reporting for recycling, and landfill diversion. This program resulted in an average landfill diversion rate of 32 percent.
Wyndham Destinations vacation clubs feature a flexible points system that allows owners to book stays at more than 220 vacation club resorts around the world. The company operates Club Wyndham®, WorldMark® by Wyndham, Margaritaville Vacation Club® by Wyndham, and Shell Vacations Club for nearly 900,000 owners. With ownership, travelers have the chance to explore places they haven’t visited before, year after year, staying in spacious accommodations with separate bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, and comfortable living and dining areas, without sacrificing access to resort-style amenities and service.
About Wyndham Destinations
Wyndham Destinations (NYSE:WYND) believes in putting the world on vacation. As the world’s largest vacation ownership and exchange company, Wyndham Destinations offers everyday travelers the opportunity to own, exchange or rent their vacation experience while enjoying the quality, flexibility and value that Wyndham delivers. The company’s global presence in approximately 110 countries means more vacation choices for its four million members and owner families, with more than 220 resorts which offer a contemporary take on the timeshare model – including vacation club brands Club Wyndham®, WorldMark® by Wyndham, and Margaritaville Vacation Club® by Wyndham – 4,300+ affiliated resorts through RCI, the world’s leader in vacation exchange, and 9,000 rental properties from coast to coast through Wyndham Vacation Rentals, North America’s largest professionally managed vacation rental business. Year after year, a worldwide team of 25,000 associates delivers exceptional vacation experiences to families around the globe as they make memories to last a lifetime. At Wyndham Destinations, our world is your destination. Learn more at WyndhamDestinations.com. Connect with us on Twitter: @WynDestinations; Facebook: @WyndhamDestinations; Instagram: @WyndhamDestinations; YouTube: @WyndhamDestinations; and LinkedIn: @WyndhamDestinations.
Media Contact:
Steven Goldsmith
Wyndham Destinations
(407) 626-3830
Media@wyn.com
Source: Wyndham Destinations
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