CYBA has been talking trash - plastic water bottle trash. It's not a glamorous subject. In fact, it is downright toxic when you think of the millions of plastic water bottles that super yachts and charter yachts send to the landfills every year… probably about 20 million in the Caribbean Islands alone.
No one knows for sure, but estimates for how long it takes a plastic bottle to degrade range from 450 to 1,000 years. In the Caribbean, nearly 100% of plastic water bottles end up in landfills or the ocean. Worldwide, eight million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year.
Recycling does not exist in many of the pristine areas of the world where yachts cruise - the Caribbean, the South Pacific islands, the Bahamas, the Seychelles, and southeast Asia. Even in places like Greece where recycling is undertaken, only 20-30% of plastic bottles are ever recycled. The percentage is even lower on yachts simply because the logistics of recycling aren't easy - sorting it, stowing it, and searching for bins to dump it in.
For yachts, there is an easy solution. Produce your own onboard drinking water by using water makers and filtration systems. Even if it’s only the crews making the switch to onboard water, this cuts plastic waste in half.
One Perini Navi crew demonstrated to their owner that it saved the owner $9,000 annually by just having the crew drink the water that they produce onboard. It’s not only a money saving proposition. “Saying no to plastic” eliminates the lugging and stowing of 10-20 cases of water a week. Did you know that 1,000 times more energy is used to bottle, transport and refrigerate water than is consumed by making it onboard?
CYBA has sponsored the Designer Water Contest at charter shows in the Caribbean, United States and Greece. It is thrilled to be staging the contest at Antigua Yacht Show. Enter the contest now! The purpose of the contest is to highlight the benefits of reducing single use plastics.
CYBA brokers – about 130 of them in 20 countries worldwide – encourage their clients to sample the yacht’s water and contribute to the cause. Most clients are stunned that recycling is not available in many island destinations and are delighted to be part of the solution.
As an industry, our livelihood is dependent upon the health and beauty of our oceans. Saying “NO” to plastic water bottles is one simple step that each one of us can take. Go buy yourself a re-usable water bottle today.
Awards night: 7th December 2024
Time: 17.30
Place: Patio area at Copper & Lumber Store Hotel
