Reducing Plastic Waste in Bali’s Hospitality Sector Through the Destination Zero Waste Initiative

Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to Bali’s beaches, waters, and communities. With tourism contributing around 70 percent of the island’s economy, the hospitality sector holds a critical role in shaping Bali’s sustainable future. In response, Enviu, the TUI Care Foundation, and the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) have partnered to launch Destination Zero Waste Bali on 22 May 2025. 

Rooted in global frameworks by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Tourism, the initiative positions Bali as a national pilot province for waste management reform. It builds on the provincial government’s momentum to reduce plastic-bottled beverages, reinforcing local efforts to cut plastic waste at scale. By targeting hotels and resorts, key contributors to single-use plastic consumption, the program aims to test and scale practical waste reduction solutions directly at the source. 

Importantly, the initiative builds upon insights from the GTPI workshop held in Bali by UNEP’s 10YFP Secretariat, which identified both systemic barriers and opportunities along the tourism value chain from supply chain packaging to guest engagement. Using GTPI-developed tools, participating hotels will measure their single-use plastic consumption and implement reduction strategies that can be replicated across the industry. 

In its initial three months, the project will collaborate with five pioneering hotels: Nirjhara, Raffles Bali, Segara Village, Tony’s Villa and Resort, and TUI Blue Berawa. Together, they will identify key problem areas, pilot alternatives to single-use plastics, and assess which practices can be adopted more broadly across the sector. 

“This project brings innovation and collaboration to put sustainability at the heart of tourism,” said Alexander Panczuk, Executive Director of the TUI Care Foundation. “It’s about protecting Bali’s natural beauty for generations to come, while ensuring long-term benefits for local communities.” 

Jorge Laguna Celis, Head of the 10YFP Secretariat, added “Bali’s tourism sector is demonstrating real leadership. This is exactly what GTPI envisions: scalable, collaborative solutions driven by local ownership.” 

For Enviu, the initiative reflects a commitment to business-driven solutions that deliver impact for all stakeholders. CEO Paul van der Linden stated “Long-term solutions must involve everyone: staff, guests, and management. That’s why we co-create solutions with hotels, focusing on approaches that are impactful, practical, and realistic from a business perspective. We believe business can be a driver for good, and we’re excited to work with these pioneering hotels to tackle Bali’s plastic problem.” 

For local hotels, the initiative offers vital support. I Putu Yudha Mastera Sulaksana, Operations Manager at Tony’s Villa and Resort in Seminyak, shared: “As a small independent hotel, we’ve always wanted to reduce our environmental footprint, but limited resources made it difficult. This initiative gives us the support and opportunity to explore practical ways to cut single-use plastics, and we’re eager to be part of it.” 

By combining innovation, collaboration, and local ownership, Destination Zero Waste Bali aims not only to reduce plastic waste but also to inspire a mindset shift, laying the foundation for a regenerative tourism model that honors both Bali’s environment and its cultural heritage.