ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In
conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day, Wyndham
Destinations (NYSE: WYND), the world's largest vacation ownership
and exchange company, announced today 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, a professional manager of vacation rental
properties. 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.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wyndham-destinations-vacation-club-resorts-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-and-other-single-use-plastic-300921743.html
SOURCE Wyndham Destinations