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Melco Resorts & Entertainment continues to support the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment spearheaded by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with UN Environment Programme. As the world’s first hospitality and integrated resort company to sign up to the global initiative to tackle plastic waste and pollution, Melco is also the industry’s only company to be included in the first New Plastics Economy Global Commitment 2019 Progress Report. Published at the Our Ocean Conference in Oslo on October 23, the report provides an unprecedented level of transparency on how almost 200 businesses and governments are reshaping the plastics system.

As a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment since March 2019, Melco is driven by a strong focus around environmental sustainability which is core to its strategy and daily operations. Melco has committed to reducing the use of problematic plastics and promoting circular economy across its global operations, including at its integrated resorts City of Dreams Macau, Studio City, Altira Macau, and City of Dreams Manila.

Ms. Denise Chen, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, “We realize the amount of plastic consumed at integrated resorts is considerable and could make a substantial difference. As such, we are pleased to have become the first hospitality and integrated resorts company to sign up to New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, developing roadmaps across our global operations to address the use of single use plastic (SUP). Whilst it is undoubtedly a massive initiative to undertake, we are committed to doing so, and stand in support of Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the UN Environment Programme’s call for more businesses to sign up to the commitment to help eliminate problematic packaging.”

Key points from the Melco progress report include:

  • The anticipated achievement of the commitment to remove all SUP bottles throughout Melco’s employee areas by the end of 2019. SUP water bottles have been replaced with the provision of refill/drinking stations, saving approximately 244,000 bottles per year, representing 3.5 tonnes of PET plastic.
  • The continued development of a roadmap to reduce SUP. The scope of this SUP roadmap will cover amenity kits, garbage bags, plastic bottles, straws, disposable food and beverage (F&B) containers and utensils. The first comprehensive waste audits of the Company’s integrated resort operations were undertaken this year, which identified the key sources of plastic packaging in our operations.
  • By weight, the majority of Melco’s branded plastic packaging comes from beverages served in SUP bottles. The Company is seeking alternative solutions which not only eliminate the use of SUP in its operations, but also enhances the guest experience.
  • The Company is replacing SUP F&B containers and cutlery with non-plastic alternatives, which will help reduce 9.5 tonnes of SUP.