By Foday Moriba Conteh
In recognition of their pioneering efforts to reduce single-use plastics and their steadfast commitment to embracing circular economy principles, which serve as a beacon of inspiration for the local community and will contribute to a more sustainable and responsible future for Sierra Leone, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministries of Finance, Tourism and Environment, alongside the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Project (RUSLP), and the World Bank, with generous support from PROBLUE, presented Certificates of Appreciation to sustainability pioneer hotels in the country on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
The ceremony, held at the Country Lodge Hotel on Hill Station in Freetown, also marked the launch of the Early Adopters Day and Green Labelling Reward initiative, aimed at commending the efforts of tourism operators in minimizing single-use plastic (SUP) within the tourism sector in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Louise Twining-Ward, Senior Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, emphasized the pervasive threat posed by plastic pollution to rivers, oceans, and marine life. She stressed the urgency of taking swift, concerted action to combat the issue, especially within the tourism sector, given Sierra Leone’s projected increase in tourist numbers.
She highlighted the initiative’s inception two years ago, driven by PROBLUE’s visionary concept adding that despite initial skepticism a small cohort of businesses stepped forward as early adopters. The Senior Private Sector Specialist revealed that through collaborative efforts, these pioneers assessed their plastic usage, identified areas for improvement and fostered a culture of knowledge-sharing and cooperation.
According to her, responding to feedback the initiative entered its second phase, mentoring small businesses to develop and supply viable alternatives adding that the gradual progress was underscored by the presence of businesses at the ceremony, representing the ongoing journey toward sustainability.
She informed the audience that the presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to sustainability pioneer hotels marks the beginning of a transformative journey, rather than the culmination of a fully-fledged certification program.
Emphasizing their approach as voluntary, she expressed her belief that change, driven by voluntary action, tends to be more enduring.
Addressing the issue of Government’s intervention, she explained their decision not to immediately advocate for a blanket ban on plastic bags, unlike some other nations. Instead, they opted to focus on voluntary initiatives. However, she acknowledged the likelihood of future regulations, clarifying that such measures wouldn’t apply retroactively to the early adopters.
Turning to ongoing efforts, she mentioned the Plastics Leadership Platform spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance. Under this initiative, they are developing a green task force tasked with identifying products that may warrant increased tariffs as part of a broader strategy to promote sustainability.
Addressing the Early Adopters Program and the Sierra Leone Hospitality and Tourism Association’s (SLHTA) commitment to transitioning to sustainable practices within the tourism sector, Miatta Marke, a member of SLHTA, began by reaffirming their dedication to the Go Circular Week event, which focuses on plastic reduction and the principles of a circular economy in the country.
She emphasized SLHTA’s mission to inspire its members to embrace the initiative’s vision and long-term goals. To achieve this, she explained that they have integrated the Go Circular or Green Label Reward initiative as a standard agenda item in their meetings. This approach aims to foster discussions among members, facilitating collaboration and problem-solving.
Acknowledging the shared commitment to eliminate plastics from their businesses, Miatta Marke highlighted the financial challenges that often deter businesses from fully participating. In response, she revealed ongoing discussions, prompted by suggestions from partners, to explore joint purchasing arrangements.
“We are exploring the potential of joint purchasing to incentivize suppliers of paper products,” Marke explained. “By pooling the purchasing power of 3-5 businesses and approaching suppliers collectively, we aim to negotiate more favourable terms, thus reducing costs for our members. This is one of the proactive steps we are taking as SLHTA,” she concluded.
She acknowledged one of the hurdles encountered in addressing single-use plastics within their businesses: the challenge of persuading customers that single-use plastics are not essential. Explaining that using tap water can be safe, she noted the considerable difficulty they’ve faced in this endeavour, navigating through various steps in the process.
Nevertheless, she expressed optimism, revealing that they have nearly reached the culmination of their efforts. As part of their journey, they now provide guests with complimentary servings from water dispensers instead of requiring them to purchase bottled water.
Additionally, they offer laboratory reports detailing the safety of the current batch of water served at their establishment, assuring customers of its quality compared to bottled water.
In his presentation on the Green Label Reward Concert, Bashir Idriss, Director of Environmental Health & Safety, outlined the primary aim of the Green Labelling initiative: to commend tourism operators for minimizing single-use plastics within the sector. Specific objectives include motivating operators to invest in SUP reduction, establishing a nationally recognized label, raising awareness about plastic pollution and pioneering approaches to SUP reduction.
Addressing the Early Adopters Program and SLHTA’s commitment to sustainable practices in tourism, Miatta Marke reaffirmed their dedication to the Go Circular Week event. She emphasized SLHTA’s mission to inspire members and facilitate collaboration through the Go Circular or Green Label Reward initiative.
Marke acknowledged the financial challenges businesses face in eliminating plastics but revealed ongoing discussions about joint purchasing arrangements to incentivize suppliers of paper products, thereby reducing costs for members.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mima Yema Mimi, expressed appreciation for the Government’s initiative and lauded tourism operators for their SUP reduction efforts.
She encouraged SLHTA to continue persuading businesses to join the cause, emphasizing the collective impact of collaboration.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to sustainability pioneer hotels, including Country Lodge Hotel, The View Hotel, Hotel Barmoi, Country Spot etc. by Deputy Minister Mimi, marking a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward a greener, more sustainable future.
