Sydney businesses pledge to dump single-use plastics
Some of the city’s biggest businesses have signed on to a green pledge with the City of Sydney, aiming to rid the environment of plastic clogging streets and waterways.
Sydney Opera House, Atlassian and Fox Studios headline a list of more than 30 Sydney businesses that have pledged to dump single-use plastics.
Under the Sydney Single-use Pledge — an initiative from the City of Sydney — leaders in retail, hospitality, entertainment and industry will phase out items such as plastic straws, bottles, utensils and cups from hotels, offices and venues.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the council had set a “bold” goal of generating zero waste by 2030, and the support of Sydney’s biggest businesses would be critical in reaching that mark.
So far 32 businesses have signed on.
Other major Sydney ventures involved in the green push include the Hyatt Regency, Hilton Sydney, the Langham Sydney, the Star Entertainment Group and the Australian Museum.
“Acting together, we can reduce our impact on the environment and show the world that Sydney businesses are leading the way to a zero waste future,” Cr Moore said.
Cr Moore pointed to studies that showed up to one million plastic bottles were purchased around the world each minute — but only half are recycled — to show the need for action.
“Plastic straws can last up to 600 years and many end up in our beautiful harbour and waterways,” she said.
“It is shameful that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.”
It is a cause that hit close to home for pledges Merlin Entertainments, which runs Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, according to social responsibility manager Ashley Hayes.
“We have seen first-hand the direct impact plastic has on marine life through our recently opened Animal Rescue Centre,” Ms Hayes said.
“The first rescue patient was a green sea turtle named Matilda who was found struggling and underweight.
“While Matilda was successfully nursed back to health and released back into the wild in April, her rescue reinforces the devastating impact that plastic pollution is having on marine life who mistake plastic for food.”
Hostel company YHA has also signed on, with chief executive Julian Ledger detailing how its hotels would ban the sale of bottled water.
Mr Ledger said that coupled with the roll out of chilled drinking fountains at its venues would cut out the sale of 40,000 plastic bottles per year.
The City of Sydney has pledged to phase out the use of seven items including bottled water, plastic straws, cups, utensils, polystyrene plates, promotional flyers and single-use sampling or giveaways.
Businesses can choose what items to eliminate or reduce that are most relevant.
The list:
1. TCX | The Cup Exchange
2. Australian National Maritime Museum
3. Atlassian
4. The GPT Group
5. Northrop Consulting Engineers
6. University of Sydney Union
7. The Planet Earth Cleaning Company
8. Sydney Living Museums
9. Stylecraft
10. Designblogic Australia
11. TSA Management
12. Department of Planning
13. IAG
14. Steensen Varming
15. Australian Museum
16. Optiver
17. Herbert Smith Freehills
18. ICC Sydney Pty Ltd
19. Merlin Entertainments
20. Fox Studios Australia
21. PARKROYAL Darling Harbour
22. Sydney Opera House
23. Amora Hotel Jamison
24. Accor Hotels
25. Hilton Sydney
26. Hyatt Regency
27. The Star Entertainment Group
28. The Langham Sydney
29. Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences
30. Holiday Inn Old Sydney
31. Allianz
32. YHA
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