Welcome to our Blog
Crafting a Sustainable World, One Post at a Time
Can biofuels help us solve climate change?
Biofuels have recently become popular in the search to lessen our reliance on CO2-heavy diesel. But, what exactly is biofuel? And can it help solve climate change? Read on to learn more about the solutions that it can offer to lessen our environmental footprint.
Sustainable Kerstpakketten (Christmas Boxes): Instock, RotterZwam & ZustainaBox
In the Netherlands, there is a specific tradition regarding Christmas gifts from employers to their employees. They traditionally give their employees what we call in Dutch a “kerstpakket” (which means “Christmas box”).
In this blog, we looked into some amazing alternative Christmas Boxes from sustainable companies in the Netherlands. They offer beautiful and unique gifts that can make your life a bit more eco-friendly, and support local and sustainable initatives at the same time. We are very excited to show you some of the options that are out there in our latest blog - which are not only suitable for Christmas gifts from employers, but also for your family and friends (or to treat yourself).
Unwrapped: Why are we still using plastic food packaging?
You’d think that plastic food packaging would be enough to solve Europe’s food waste problem. The reason why most of our food is packaged in a supermarket is because it keeps our produce ‘fresher’ right?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Both plastic pollution and food waste are at all time highs and there has never been a better moment to find solutions. Luckily, there are many innovative packaging ideas, which aim to reduce the source of both plastic pollution and food waste.
Slovenia: The Most Sustainable Country on Earth
In 2017, Slovenia was named the most sustainable country on Earth by National Geographic. While visiting Ljubljana and Lake Bled, I witnessed some visible signs of sustainability: eco-friendly zones, recycling programs, and restricted swimming areas. To go beyond what meets the eye, I decided to do some research on my own to learn more about how Slovenia got its title.
This blog will take a look at what Slovenia has done for sustainability as well as what areas need to be targeted to maintain its reputation as a sustainable paradise.
What are the 7 current trends in tourism?
It can be a challenging task to keep up to date with the newest tourism trends. Luckily, we’ve come up with a list of 7 major current trends and insights in the tourism sector to keep you up to date while inspiring you to use these tips to grow a sustainable business.
Pivoting towards sustainable business: understanding environmental cost
When goods and services are traded in marketplaces around the world, you are able to look at a price tag and decide to purchase the product of your choice. When it comes to thing like safety, happiness, fresh air and most importantly, a clean environment, these qualities are not ‘for sale’ and therefore do not have a price tag.
This is where ECIs (Environmental Cost Indicators) can help quantify the value of the impact an action can have on the environment. Read on to see how your business can use these to become more sustainable!
Turning overtourism into innovation
In global cities around the world, tourists have become a subject of irritation among the locals.
For locals around the world that have been “invaded”, tourists represent the “awful other” and in many cases the “necessary evil”. The impact of heavy tourism only scratches the surface of what negative impacts this can leave behind if nothing is done to regulate it.
This blog will look into what can be done to cultivate the innovative potential generated by tourists to improve city infrastructure and the daily lives of locals.
Sustainable Tourism and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), launched in 2015, highlight 169 targets that aim to push forward the current standards of international development. The SDGs focus around many topics including targets for protecting the planet, fighting inequality and combatting the effects of climate change while involving all relevant stakeholders along the implementation process.
The question is: how can these goals be applied to sustainable tourism?
The power of influencing environmental responsibility
What is the power of celebrity and how can it be used for good?
These are two big questions that our generation of Millennials have been confronted with in a world that seeks validation from the internet and pop culture.While social media popularity and the value of celebrity image can be used to promote things from retail products, businesses, and even snack foods, influencers can also be used for fighting climate change and spreading the word on sustainability.
This blog highlights a list of celebrities that have taken it upon themselves to utilize their star power for a greater good. These celebrities are actors of change and models of a sustainable mindset for current and future generations.
What everyone should know about cigarette butts
What is a cigarette filter made out of? The answer is plastic.
Many smokers and non-smokers are now just beginning to realize that cigarette butts have long been our biggest source of forgotten plastic. In this blog, I will discuss the environmental implications of cigarette butt pollution, followed by revelations that I had while taking part in a city-wide cleanup in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Normalizing responsible tourism: the difference our choices make
Some say that traveling can heal the soul, but at what cost for the environment? In this blog I’ll discuss what it would take to normalize sustainable choices and how we can encourage tourists to treat destinations as if they were at home.
Scylla: A River Cruise Company With A Green Vision
The European river cruise sector is booming.
The number of active cruise vessels has more than doubled between 2004 and 2017. The growth in cruise tourism has placed a heavy burden on marine environments. As a result, there has been a general rise in customers demanding more responsible and sustainable tourism. To reduce their environmental impacts and to meet the increasing demand for sustainable cruising options, river cruise companies (like Scylla Cruises) have begun to take action.
Read more to find out what Scylla is doing for sustainability in our interview with Scylla’s very own CEO, Arno Reitsma.
The new technological aspects of eco-sustainability: the Mandalika Project
The Mandalika Project, a government-mandated project, looking to create a new and sustainable alternative destination to Bali, has inspired some exciting new technologies for eco-sustainability. These new developments, which are looking to be implemented in Bali as well, are intended to make Lombok a sustainable tourism paradise.
The quickly developing island of Lombok is slated to become a fantastic and environmentally sustainable eco-tourism destination through the guidelines put into place by the Indonesian government. This project promises to redefine eco-tourism to bring people closer to a healthier lifestyle and one that is in tune with the natural environment.
The Student Hotel: Inspiring its students and guests to be more sustainable
In this interview our team members from Sea Going Green sat down with Amber Westerborg, the Impact Manager of The Student Hotel (TSH) situated a few minute cycle from the heart of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We asked TSH about their current sustainability projects and operations, how they are engaging staff and guests as well as some tips for other hotels looking to incorporate sustainability into their core business.
Travalyst: A new alliance of industry leaders for sustainable tourism
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is the talk of the town these days, and no, not just because he is a beloved member of the British Royal family, but because of his new initiative looking to be a driving force for sustainable tourism: Travalyst.
This past Tuesday in Amsterdam, Prince Harry along with some big names in the travel industry, Booking, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, Visa and C-Trip, gathered together in ADAM Tower amongst an intimate group of local entrepreneurs and professionals, including our very own Founder and CEO, Ally Dragozet.
How sustainability can benefit your business- Our top tips
Introducing sustainability into your business can improve efficiency, encourage employee engagement, drive customer loyalty and ultimately boost the bottom line of your business. For offices looking to cut down their CO2 footprints, enhance their waste management strategy, and introduce more sustainable initiatives into the company, luckily there are many new ideas and practices out there.
It can be overwhelming to take the first steps. Where do you start and what are the most effective methods? We’ve put together a list of our top tips for creating a sustainable business that benefits your bottom line.
Balancing the Pros and Cons of Coastal Tourism through Sustainability
When so many people around the world participate in oceanfront or coastal activities as a part of their vacation or every day lifestyle, the morality of understanding how it impacts our ecosystems should be at the forefront of our minds. The first question we should ask ourselves is this: what are the benefits of coastal tourism? And what can we do to ensure that there are more pros than cons?
Taking Drinking Water to the Next Level: Introducing Aquablu
This week, we’re excited to announce Sea Going Green’s partnership with Aquablu, an innovative water filtration system looking to change the way that we access clean drinking water, leaving bottled water behind in the dust.
Aquablu allows for customers to tap into polluted or otherwise non-drinkable water and filter out micro-plastics, chemicals, antibiotics, heavy metals and more. This technology can even be used on board marine vessels such as cruise ships and luxury boats, which by using this product helps lower their CO2 footprint and mitigates the risk of plastic bottles (and caps) ending up overboard!
Read more about Aquablu in our interview with the founder, Marnix, and see for yourself how this could be a great addition to your home, office or boat!
Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam: Where Circular Economy Meets Hospitality
Can a hotel be luxurious and sustainable at the same time? Is it possible that a hotel with as many as 200 rooms can generate its own electricity? Could a hotel serve as a social hotspot for locals? These are the questions I asked myself before writing this article.
In this blog, I will highlight the newly constructed Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam in The Netherlands to showcase the forward thinking concepts that they have integrated into their hotel operations including electricity consumption, waste production and other innovative practices that incorporate sustainability.
Read on to see how this hotel embodies the “green future” and provides a quick city-escape without even having to take a plane.
A new sustainable tourism model: What the Caribbean can learn from Baja, Mexico pt. II
In my last blog “Transitioning from a Tourism-Dependent Region to a Sustainable Paradise: The Caribbean Case Study pt. I” I talked about human pressures on the natural environment in the Caribbean. Even though these pressures are substantial, I think there is a way to turn the most unsustainable tourism-dependent region in the world into a sustainable tourism paradise. In this blog i’ll explain how this can come to be by using the example of Baja, Mexico.