WILLEMSTAD – TUI Care Foundation and Green Phenix are expanding their Destination Zero Waste Curaçao project, with nearly 100 businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector set to participate in waste collection, separation and recycling during the new phase of the initiative.
The expansion follows an initial phase in which more than 40 participating businesses collected over 50 tons of waste.
According to TUI Care Foundation, the project has not only reduced waste but also created employment opportunities for young people, women and people who face barriers to entering the labor market.
The next phase will significantly expand participation across Curaçao's tourism industry. The project aims to process 25 tons of plastic and another 30 tons of other waste.
Part of the collected plastic will be recycled locally and transformed into new products, including souvenirs made in Curaçao.
Green Phenix wants the initiative to demonstrate that discarded plastic and other materials do not necessarily have to end up as waste but can instead become raw materials for local production.
The organization combines recycling with employment and learning opportunities while contributing to the protection of Curaçao's natural environment.
The involvement of almost 100 tourism and hospitality businesses is also intended to strengthen the role of the tourism industry in reducing the amount of waste generated on the island.
Destination Zero Waste Curaçao forms part of a broader program through which TUI Care Foundation plans to support five projects on Curaçao in the coming years.
The four additional initiatives will be introduced in phases over the coming months. According to the foundation, they will focus on supporting local communities, nature conservation and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Some of the projects will also encourage visitors to explore Curaçao beyond its best-known tourist attractions, potentially spreading the economic benefits of tourism to other communities on the island.
Through the combination of recycling, local production, employment and environmental protection, TUI Care Foundation and Green Phenix aim to demonstrate how Curaçao's growing tourism sector can play a more active role in the transition toward a circular economy.