Costa Navarino Receives Silver at WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards

Aerial of Navarino Dunes, Costa Navarino.

Costa Navarino, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese, was recognised for its continuous commitment to sustainable tourism development and received a Silver Award at this year’s WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards,

Owned by TEMES SA, Costa Navarino won the award in the ‘Reducing Plastic Waste in the Environment’ category.

The WTM Responsible Tourism Awards recognise businesses and destinations that make responsible tourism their focus and inspire others.

In 2021, Costa Navarino managed to reduce the use of single-use plastics by 10 percent, compared to its usage in 2019. Without counting Covid-related plastics, the use was reduced by 23 percent. At the same time, the use of plastic bottles was reduced by 50 percent.

Partnership with WWF Greece to combat single-use plastics

Voidokilia beach in the Costa Navarino area.

Greece’s prime sustainable destination, Costa Navarino, has partnered with WWF Greece, with the aim to limit single-use plastics across its resorts and operations. Through joining forces, a full inventory report is carried out annually, measuring the amount of plastics used across the destination’s distinct resort sites, with the objective to reduce these as much as possible.

Through this flagship programme, the aim is to significantly contribute to the reduction of plastic waste and plastic pollution ending up in the Greek seas, and to mobilise the immediate supply network and, local communities as well as the wider hospitality industry in setting ambitious goals.

This partnership comes as a natural step, in line with Costa Navarino’s participation at the UN Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by UNEP and UNWTO in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Gialova lagoon, Costa Navarino.

Another key target set by Costa Navarino is to achieve carbon neutrality for the GHG emissions resulting from the activities of the facilities by 2030, through -among others- direct emissions reduction and on-site energy production from renewables.

Further key initiatives include the biggest olive tree transplant program in Europe, the creation of water reservoirs with a total capacity of 1,180,000m³ to cover irrigation needs only with surplus surface water, and the establishment of the Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO).

Since 2009 Costa Navarino’s partnership with Stockholm University and the Academy, has provided a research and education hub covering climate and the environment in the Mediterranean region.

Earlier in 2022, Costa Navarino also won Best Sustainable Destination in the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards, adding to its list of environmental accolades.

The winners of the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards 2022 were announced during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London on Monday.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of WTM London.