More than 100 restaurants, bars and beach bars across Alcúdia are joining forces this summer as the municipality takes part in the seventh edition of Ecovidrio’s Banderas Verdes sustainability campaign.
A total of 103 local hospitality businesses have signed up to the initiative alongside Alcúdia Town Hall. The campaign recognises the efforts of coastal municipalities and hospitality businesses to improve glass recycling and support the circular economy, particularly during the busy summer months.
Alcúdia will compete alongside 27 other municipalities in the Balearic Islands, with two Green Sustainability Flags available for the region.
How the Competition Works
Municipalities taking part in the campaign are assessed using several criteria. These include increasing the amount of glass packaging collected for recycling compared with the previous year, achieving participation from at least 50% of local hospitality businesses and promoting the campaign among businesses, residents and visitors.
Across Spain, more than 120 municipalities and 12,000 restaurants, bars and beach bars are expected to take part in this year’s campaign. Nine Green Sustainability Flags will be awarded nationally, including two in the Balearic Islands.
The campaign also recognises individual hospitality businesses for their environmental practices. Establishments are assessed on areas including waste management, energy and water consumption, and sustainable purchasing.
Why the Summer Season Matters
The campaign aims to respond to the increase in glass packaging waste generated in coastal areas during the summer.
According to figures included in the campaign announcement, one third of the glass containers placed on the market are consumed during the summer period, while close to 50% of single use glass packaging waste comes from the hospitality sector.
To help participating municipalities and businesses improve glass separation and collection, Ecovidrio will install 200 new containers and provide almost 1,300 wheeled bins free of charge across the campaign.
Around 100 environmental educators will also visit participating bars, restaurants and beach bars during the summer to provide environmental training and information about the circular economy.
More Than 15,800 Tonnes Collected in the Balearics
During the previous edition of the Banderas Verdes campaign, more than 15,800 tonnes of glass packaging were collected in the Balearic Islands.
According to the campaign figures, recycling this material avoided more than 9,100 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, prevented the extraction of more than 18,900 tonnes of raw materials and saved close to 11,200 MWh of energy.
This summer, Alcúdia and its 103 participating hospitality businesses will be hoping their efforts can help the municipality secure one of the two Green Sustainability Flags available in the Balearic Islands.
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