Blue Standard Success Across the Caribbean
As part of a larger partnership between Sandals Resorts International and Oceanic Global beginning in 2019, the Sandals Resorts portfolio worked to implement sustainability measures across their properties in accordance with Oceanic Global’s Blue Standard, a cross-industry sustainability verification program. As a result, 19 (nineteen) Sandals locations – spanning the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, and Saint Lucia – achieved Blue Verification for their efforts to reduce single-use plastics and to implement broad-reaching comprehensive sustainability initiatives throughout their operations. To build upon the company’s visible commitment to sustainability, its philanthropic arm, Sandals Foundation, supported a ‘Blue Grant’ project with Oceanic Global to financially support the Blue Verification process and extend the benefits of the program in the surrounding community.
Blue Grant: Empowering Sustainability Locally
To strengthen its commitment to sustainability, the Sandals Foundation partnered with Oceanic Global through a ‘Blue Grant’ to support the Blue Verification process and extend its impact in the surrounding community.
With this funding, businesses in Jamaica’s Salt Marsh region achieved Oceanic Global’s Blue Standard, a sustainability certification recognizing responsible business leadership. Four businesses earned Blue Seals for their efforts: Cuckoo’s Place received the 2-Star Seal, while Monica’s, H&J Fitness, and Crab’s earned 1-Star Seals for eliminating or finding alternatives to single-use plastics such as bags, cups, and straws.
Each business adopted waste management plans to reduce, sort, and dispose of waste in compliance with local regulations. They introduced recycling and waste stations, engaged local partners like the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) and Recycling Partners of Jamaica, leading to improved waste sorting and more frequent collection in the community.
