Sentosa to stop usage of plastic bottled water by end-2023

All facilities on Sentosa will stop the usage of plastic bottled water by the end of 2023, the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has announced. 

This includes members of the Sentosa Carbon Neutral Network (SCNN) – like F&B establishments and hotels – which have committed to remove single-use plastic bottled water from guest rooms, dine-in, takeaway and events settings. 

Through such initiatives, Sentosa is expected to save at least two million bottles per year.

Some key measures undertaken by such members is the removal of plastic packaging from in-room amenities such as dental kits and laundry bags, done by the Capella Hotel.

Other hotels that have followed suit to reduce plastic bottled water consumption include the Oasia Resort Sentosa, which offers refillable water bottles and filtered water.

The Outpost Hotel and the Village Hotel have also switched out its individually-bottled shower amenities to wall-mounted containers in all guest rooms, while the Barracks Hotel will provide still and sparkling water in glass bottles.

Resorts World Sentosa has also looked into efforts to progressively phase out single-use plastic items including straws, bottled water, takeaway food containers and tableware, collectively reducing over 100 tonnes of plastic waste each year. 

Aside from the measures implemented by the various hotels, Baristart Coffeehas also collaborated with Singapore start-up Muuse to create an app-enabled container programme that helps patrons reduce their usage of disposable takeaway cups and boxes through loaning them reusable containers.

These measures are part of a playbook made from the island’s collaboration with the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore. 

Titled the Sentosa Playbook for Reducing Disposables, the guidebook aims to help businesses on the island understand the best sustainable practices, monitor their progress and try out more sustainable technologies. 

“This Playbook will serve to guide island businesses to align their practices with a Sentosa-wide approach towards tackling waste and working towards a Sustainable Sentosa,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Sentosa Development Corporation, Ms Thien Kwee Eng.