Webinar on Practical Solutions for Addressing Plastic Pollution in Sri Lanka’s Tourism Sector

In light of the tourism sector playing a significant role in both plastic consumption and the generation of plastic waste, plastic pollution is a growing concern in Sri Lanka. Recognising the environmental risks posed by single-use plastics (SUPs), the government has prioritised integrated solutions that align with sustainable development and circular economy goals.

This webinar was held in the context of a pilot project implemented in Galle City by the Ministry of Environment in close collaboration with the BRS Secretariat, IGES and Help-O, and financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). As a part of this project, three selected hotels were supported to develop and operationalise customised action plans to minimise plastic waste generation. The project also included capacity-building workshops, the installation of microfiber filters to reduce microplastic leakage from laundry operations, and the promotion of sustainable procurement practices. 

One of the key outputs of this initiative was the development of the Guide to Manage Plastic Waste at Small and Medium Hotels in Sri Lanka, a practical resource designed to support hospitality establishments in adopting low-cost, locally sourced alternatives to plastics.

The webinar also highlighted global experiences and tools provided by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI). The combination of international frameworks and local innovation offered a comprehensive approach for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector to transition toward more sustainable plastic management.

The primary intent of the webinar was to strengthen Sri Lanka’s efforts in addressing plastic pollution within the tourism sector by focusing on practical and locally applicable solutions. Building on earlier initiatives, the event aimed to enhance stakeholder understanding of effective measures for reducing SUPs and promoting the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.

Specifically, the session aimed to provide tourism businesses with practical knowledge, tools, and real-world examples to support the shift from problematic plastic items to reusable and locally available alternatives. By introducing self-assessment methods and resources such as the GTPI toolkit and Sri Lanka’s new hotel guidebook, the webinar encouraged businesses to take concrete and measurable actions.

In addition, the event served as a platform for sharing experiences, addressing challenges, and learning from best practices, promoting a collective effort and stronger collaboration across the tourism value chain. 

Opening Session

• The session opened with a welcome by the moderator of the session, Dr. Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage (Director of CCET, IGES). He emphasised the growing urgency to reduce single-use plastics (SUPs) in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, especially among small and medium-sized hotels. The importance of sharing practical tools and local innovations was also highlighted.
• Ms. Pathma Abeykoon (Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka) put into focus key national policy advancements, including the Waste Management Policy, the  National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management, and regulatory actions to restrict single-use plastics. She noted ongoing efforts, such as introducing pricing mechanisms for plastic shopping bags and amending the Environmental Act to institutionalize Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Furthermore, she also underlined the role of tourism stakeholders in implementing sustainable waste management practices.
• Mr. Jost Dittkrist (Programme Management Officer at the BRS Secretariat) contextualized Sri Lanka’s actions within international frameworks, notably the Basel Convention and its Plastic Waste Amendments. He highlighted the importance of environmentally sound management and reduction at source.
• Ms. Svitlana Mikhalyeva (Coordinator of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme 10YFP Secretariat, UNEP) stressed the value of participatory dialogue in the context of Sri Lanka and reiterated the commitment of GTPI to support the tourism sector in adopting circular economy approaches to plastics.

Presentation Session

• Ms. Svitlana Mikhalyeva (UNEP) introduced the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI), which supports tourism businesses in adopting circular approaches to plastic use. She highlighted GTPI’s practical tools such as decision trees, cost assessments, and training manuals designed with industry input. With over 260 global signatories, GTPI emphasizes transparency and action. Recent data shows growing engagement: 33 accommodation providers (USD 22.8B revenue) and 64% reporting improved supplier collaboration and reuse efforts.
• Ms. Jo Hendrickx (CEO of Travel Without Plastic) provided a detailed overview of the tools and resources available through GTPI to support tourism businesses in reducing plastic waste. She highlighted the self-assessment tool that allows hotels to evaluate their current plastic use and identify areas for improvement. The presentation emphasized the importance of transitioning from SUPs to reusable alternatives and offered real-life examples of cost-effective substitutions. She also explained how businesses can formally join GTPI, outlining the steps to make public commitments and access continuous technical guidance, training materials, and monitoring support. Her session aimed to empower businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to take measurable, practical actions aligned with circular economy principles.
• Mr. Jost Dittkrist (BRS Secretariat) highlighted the importance of the Basel Convention in regulating plastic waste, emphasizing prevention and environmentally sound management. He presented results from the Sri Lanka tourism pilot in Galle, where three hotels developed action plans to reduce plastic waste, received training, and installed microfiber filters with 98% effectiveness. A practical guidebook, co-developed with IGES and the National Crafts Council, promoted locally sourced alternatives. He also referenced international pilots, such as seaweed-based compostable packaging, and encouraged participants to explore BRS resources and tools for broader application.
• Mr. Matthew Hengesbaugh (Policy Researcher, IGES) introduced the Guide to Manage Plastic Waste at Small and Medium Hotels in Sri Lanka. He highlighted the guide’s practical 4-step approach: Learn, Plan, Involve, and Measure to help small, and medium hotels assess their plastic footprint, develop actionable plans, engage staff and guests, and track progress through performance audits. The guide includes real-life examples, checklists, and tools tailored to Sri Lanka’s context, and supports the National Sustainable Tourism Certification scheme. He emphasized that reducing plastic waste is both environmentally and economically beneficial, improving brand value and operational efficiency
• Mr. Hemantha Kumara (Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel, Galle) shared the hotel’s experiences in phasing out SUPs across its operations. Key actions included eliminating plastic water bottles by introducing an on-site glass bottling system, using reusable glass bottles with metal caps, and replacing plastic straws with paper or bamboo alternatives. The hotel also adopted cloth laundry bags, cane baskets for deliveries, bulk purchasing practices to avoid small plastic packaging, and reusable fabric garbage bags. Bathroom amenities were shifted to refillable bottles, avoiding single-use packaging. Challenges included dealing with clean wrap materials (cling film), secondary packaging from suppliers, and limitations in recyclable alternatives. The hotel is also engaged in coastal clean-ups, segregating plastic waste for recycling, and raising awareness among suppliers to reduce plastic use.
• Mr. Saminda Kahangama (Assistant Director at the National Craft Council of Sri Lanka) highlighted a wide range of locally available reusable alternatives to replace SUPs in the hotel sector. These include decorative items, bowls, trays, water containers, spice jars, bathroom amenities, baskets, dustbins, and lighting fixtures made from eco-friendly materials such as clay, ceramic, wood, jute, cane, palmyra, bamboo, and coconut shells. He emphasized the health benefits and sustainability of these products and noted the Craft Council’s capacity, with over 2,000 registered artisans and a strong national network. As a key challenge, he pointed out the lack of coordination between stakeholders like the tourism authorities and the Craft Council, calling for greater collaboration to mainstream these eco-friendly alternatives across Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector.

Closing Session

• The closing session highlighted the critical need for coordinated multi-stakeholder engagement to accelerate the reduction of plastic use in the tourism sector. Key speakers encouraged industry actors to join GTPI by adopting context-specific, operational commitments. Emphasis was placed on leveraging locally available reusable alternatives, strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships, and utilizing existing technical resources such as the National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management and the Hotel Guidebook. The session concluded with a call to develop institution-specific action plans and integrate staff, suppliers, and guests into implementation processes, reinforcing that plastic reduction not only advances environmental objectives but also enhances brand value, cost efficiency, and regulatory alignment.

• Reducing SUPs in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is essential to minimising environmental harm and promoting sustainable tourism development.
• Developing action plans identifying a variety of locally available, eco-friendly alternatives such as bamboo, clay, and cane products can effectively replace commonly used plastic items in hotels and restaurants.
• Practical tools and guidance, such as the Guide to Manage Plastic Waste at Small and Medium Hotels in Sri Lanka, the GTPI guidebook and self-assessment checklists, are available to help tourism businesses in developing and implementing step-by-step plastic reduction strategies.
• Collaborative efforts among government agencies, tourism operators, suppliers, and support organizations are crucial to achieving national goals and scaling up impact across the sector.
• Integrating sustainability criteria into hotel rating systems, such as reducing single-use plastics and adopting eco-friendly practices, is essential to encourage sustainable tourism and align the sector with environmental goals.