Transforming Tourism Value Chains - Philippines

12/04/2023

Hotels and meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) businesses connect different supply chains, from food and beverages, lodging and recreation, marketing, to operations and logistics. The availability of these resources ensures the capacity of the hotel to provide comfortable lodging and amenities, prepare delectable food options, and even offer tours and cultural experiences to its guests.

As businesses recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected that tourist arrivals, local and foreign, will continue to increase as well, and it is now essential to integrate sustainability and environmental considerations in business operations. In recent times, sustainability in the tourism value chains has been a key topic in the local and global arena.

Sustainable procurement can be strategically leveraged in the tourism sector through more responsible and circular procurement, low carbon food and beverage, energy efficient appliances, and reduction of single-use plastic purchases, among others.

The Transforming Tourism Value Chains Project developed this Guide to serve as a modular reference which the hotels and MICE businesses can use at any stage of developing and implementing sustainable procurement. This Guide contains the basic concepts of sustainability and green practices, the phases of how to go about implementing SP, and how to correctly identify “green” or sustainable products.

Access the publication here: https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/knowledge-centre/resources/quick-guide-sustainable-procurement-hotels-and-mice-philippines

20/02/2023

On the 22nd of July 2022, RA 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 lapsed into law. It mandates that companies establish EPR programs for their plastic packaging.

EPR refers to the environmental policy approach and practice that requires producers to be environmentally responsible throughout the life cycle of a product, especially its post-consumer or end-of-life stage.

Read on to find out how tourism businesses are affected and what EPR strategies companies can adopt to address their plastic waste management.

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This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI)

10/02/2023

On February 16, The NORDIC-Philippine Climate Executive Dialogue will present topics of interest in policies, business initiatives and multilateralism actions, with discussions on how these climate actions can reduce health risks from pandemic, and how these actions can also offer solutions for economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Register at: http://bit.ly/3HGhhJk
Deadline of Registration: February 10, 2023

Recognizing the need for sustainable solutions to address climate change in the country, the Nordic Embassies, consist of Embassy of Denmark in the Philippines, Finnish Embassy in Manila, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, and Embassy of Sweden in Manila have joined forces to provide a venue for climate discourse where national and local government units, and private sectors such as Businesses and the Civil Social can exchange information for climate awareness on mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

On February 16, The NORDIC-Philippine Climate Executive Dialogue will present topics of interest in policies, business initiatives and multilateralism actions, with discussions on how these climate actions can reduce health risks from pandemic, and how these actions can also offer solutions for economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

Register at: http://bit.ly/3HGhhJk
Deadline of Registration: February 10, 2023

06/02/2023

Packaging waste, if not managed properly, often settles in landfill sites or worse, ends up in nature. While this poses a challenge, the travel industry has a lot of opportunities to divert plastic packaging, specifically single-use plastics (SUP), away from the environment.

Tourism businesses such as hotels, resorts, food & beverage service providers can opt to procure ecolabelled packaging products to ensure that the products have less impact on the environment and are manufactured using less resources.

Locally, we have the Green Choice Philippines ecolabelling criteria for packaging products. The criteria require the manufacturer to comply, not only with quality but also with environmental regulations. It promotes circularity, the use of recycled content in the design, and provides information to end-users, among others.

The packaging products criteria is also aligned with the newly furnished Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022. Want to know more about the EPR Act? Tune in to our next campaign post!

This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI)

02/02/2023

Curious as to what kinds of opportunities there are for businesses and organizations to beat SUPs in the travel industry?

For this segment of the campaign, we feature one of the many opportunities that address the root causes of plastic pollution, which is the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative. This will inform you what it is and what aspiring signatories - whether businesses, governments or supporting organizations - need to do to take action on plastic pollution!

Read more at:

https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/sustainable-tourism/global-tourism-plastics-initiative

This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI)

30/01/2023

Break free from SUPs as you enjoy your travels!

✔ Plan ahead - you need to plan on what you need to bring that is appropriate and efficient depending on the destination you are going to.
✔ Carry your own cutleries to avoid plastic spoons and forks during takeouts. It’s also helpful to have a thermal bottle or cup which you can use for cold and hot drinks.
✔ Bring food-grade containers to keep your leftovers or beeswax wrap for smaller items like bread.
✔ A tote bag or a reusable bag always come in handy especially when you are planning to buy some ‘pasalubongs’.
✔ Most accommodation services offer complimentary toiletries but are often disposed of after use. Pack your own mini toiletries instead and reduce plastic waste! Better yet, support businesses that are going circular, like those with refillable shampoo and soap dispensers!

As you learn more about your travel patterns and necessities, you can slowly build your SUP-free travel kit.

This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI)

27/01/2023

Got plans for the weekend?

What'S UP is back with these simple tips to avoid single-use plastics while staying safe during your travels. As we discover more of our beautiful country, let's keep our environment in mind and do our part in reducing plastic waste.

This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI).

19/01/2023

12/01/2023

Got your New Year’s resolutions ready? This 2023, let’s include becoming more aware of environmental issues surrounding single-use plastics!

In this part of our What’SUP campaign, we look into the relevant facts on single-use plastics (SUPs) and use them to fuel our drive towards a transformed tourism industry.

This campaign is an initiative of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has been adopted by the Phil. Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Dev’t., Inc. (PCEPSDI)

10/01/2023

30/12/2022

Before the year ends, we would like to share that Savoy Hotel Manila was recognized as a sustainable advocate during the event "Transforming Philippines Tourism: Paving Sustainable Paths towards Inclusive and Climate Resilient Destinations," the project of Transforming Tourism Value Chains (TVC).

As part of our "We Save" sustainability campaign, at Savoy Hotel Manila, we commit to continuing to drive and achieve sustainable tourism and will take serious initiatives so we can contribute to the development of tourism.

We believe that everyone can help preserve the tomorrow that we borrow from future generations.

Small Steps. Big Impact.

Phil.Center for Environmental Protection and Sus. Devt.,Inc Transforming Tourism Value Chains - Philippines UN Environmental Programme