Blue Flag has begun using a new material for their flags created by recycled PET bottles

Blue Flag has made alterations to their fabric being used for the Flag, in partnership with Semaphore, the flag is now created utilising 100% recycled PET bottles.

Blue Flag works alongside Semaphore who produce the Flags which are used on certified beaches. Figures from 2020 production included orders that were dispatched toward forty-eight countries covering four continents. In 2021 the partnership with Semaphore was renewed with new material being used for the flags, offering the same products and sizes as before however with a new material: PET Flag. 

This recycled material is made from used PET bottles that are collected in supermarkets and other collection points in western Europe. After collection, the bottles are chopped up in little flakes and then melted into polyester yarn. This yarn is then used to create the new flag fabric on which the Blue Flag is screen printed in The Netherlands.

The new PET Flag material was rolled out during the 2021 season on Blue Flag beaches all over the world with very positive results.

Team Semaphore is very happy with the new contract and we look forward to continuing working with the Blue Flag organisation! -Team Semaphore

Tobago Boat Operator achieves the International Blue Flag award

The International Blue Flag Jury has granted the prestigious Blue Flag award to the Tobago tourism boat operator Top Catch Charters. Top Catch Charters has now entered an elite class of Blue Flag awarded boat operators and is currently the only Blue Flag awarded boat in the English speaking Caribbean.

The achievement of this renowned environmental award has meant that Top Catch Charters operations has complied with standards pertaining to environmental management, environmental education and information, safety and services, social responsibility and responsible operation around wildlife. The staff of Top Catch Charters has demonstrated their ongoing commitment to adhering to international best practices as it relates to providing quality service and safety standards to their guests whilst celebrating and protecting the natural environment.  Ms Shivonne Peters, Manager of Top Catch Charters explains what it means for the business to achieve this award.

“The Blue Flag award for us represents the fulfillment of our goal to provide eco-friendly tours to our customers and transform Tobago’s tourism product. For us at Top Catch Charters, we began our journey with the concept of a sustainable business model; one that ensured we minimized our environmental impact. By developing simple strategies such as saying no to single use plastics and providing alternatives through locally sourced materials such as calabash and bamboo, we truly believed we could encourage our clients to practice sustainable habits, well beyond the duration of our tours. We certainly hope that this is the start of a movement in the tour industry, not only in Tobago but in Trinidad and Tobago. Ultimately, it proves for us and says to the world that sustainable tourism is possible in Tobago as we can successfully balance economic activities with environmental conservation”.

Top Catch Charters was one of four tourism boat operators that were recipients of grant funding by the UNDP Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SPG) Green Innovator Challenge in Trinidad and Tobago. As a beneficiary of the grant Top Catch Charters received the necessary assistance and services to apply for the Blue Flag programme and ultimately accede to the necessary criteria to achieve the prestigious environmental award. Dr. Sharda Mahabir, National Coordinator GEF SGP UNDP, also extended her congratulations and expectations, 

 “GEF SGP is pleased to support Green T&T in their efforts to strengthen tourism by certifying boat operators under Blue Flag. This certification will put our beautiful sister isle on the map in terms of initiatives in support of the Blue Economy. We look forward to positive outcomes and benefits coming out of this project and more GEF SGP projects on the sister isle.”

The National Operator for the Blue Flag programme Green T&T worked alongside Top Catch Charters and three other tourism boat operators as part of the project proposal 'Reducing environmental footprint and improving eco-friendly Blue Economy by supporting Blue Flag certification for four small tour boat operators in Tobago.' Top Catch Charters was the first to submit their application to the Blue Flag National Jury, which was indicative of their steady commitment to preserving their natural environment and reducing their operations environmental footprint, inspite of the challenges posed by the COVID 19 pandemic. Joanna Moses-Wothke, CEO of Green T&T further elaborates what this achievement means for Top Catch and local tourism in general.

“This is a very significant accomplishment and there is a lot to celebrate. This is the first and only Blue Flag certified Boat Operator in the English-speaking Caribbean, the only Blue Flag certified site in Trinidad and Tobago and the first and only Blue Flag certified site for Tobago. Top Catch Charters is trailblazing when it comes to environmental performance for tour boat operators, especially on the heels of theTravel Industry Club (TIC) Destination Awards in which Tobago was given 2nd place. We at Green T&T are very proud to be a part of the ground-breaking achievements and we look forward to our continued work with Top Catch Charters and other tour boat operators and beaches on the island.”

 The Blue Flag programme is owned and managed by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) based in Denmark. The program has been operating in Europe since 1987 and has become a highly respected and recognised award, working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors at local, regional and national levels to ensure sustainable tourism.  Currently, the Blue Flag is flying at over 4,600 sites in 47 countries and has over 80 blue flag awarded boat operators worldwide. Mr Narendra Ramgulam, Director of Product Development & Destination Management, Tobago Tourism Agency Limited describes the significance of this achievement to the destination of Tobago.

“This Blue Flag award for Top Catch showcases the strong environmental work that has gone into setting Tobago apart from its regional competitors. Last year, destination Tobago achieved pilot status for 3 Blue Flag beaches, earlier this year we followed up with aligning our accommodation sector to the Green Key certification, and now our tourism boat operators like Top Catch are on board to fulfill the destination's strategic sustainable advantage. 

This is the first private-public partnership of its kind on the island, and its success will act as a catalyst for other tourism operators to come on board so we can transform Tobago together. There is still a long road ahead in achieving our sustainability goals for Tobago, our residents and our visitors, and we will continue to foster the stakeholder partnerships necessary to ensure continuity, rejuvenation, revitalization and success as we move the destination forward together.

While we enjoy the success of our first official Blue Flag designation for Tobago, we at the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited are proud of Top Catch for leading the way and fulfilling the criteria set out by the Foundation for Environmental Education to make this possible.  We are also grateful to our partners at Green T&T for their support which made this a reality.

As a foundational principle of FEE for the roll-out of the Blue Flag programme in Trinidad and Tobago, a National Jury comprised of local stakeholders, discerns on all Blue Flag applications. Upon approval by the National Jury the application is forwarded to the International Jury for final vetting and approval. In Trinidad and Tobago the National Jury comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation- Tobago House of Assembly, Tobago representative of the Trinidad and Tobago Life Saving Society, Community Development Enterprise Development and Labour, Solid Waste Management Company Limited, Department of Modern Studies, Signal Hill Secondary School, Environmental Management Authority, Division of Health Wellness and Family Development- Tobago House of Assembly, Yacht Services Association of Trinidad and Tobago and Tobago Tourism Agency Ltd.

Better Sustainability, Efficiency and Profitability Through Digital Transformation

Visitor reservations are lucrative, and now they are also more sustainable. The more berths your marina can free up for visitors, the less pressure to build new marinas and damage the coast. And the good news is that more reservations don’t have to mean more work for your team.

While some boaters stay close to the marina, hundreds of thousands of them cast off to visit a different marina every year. We help educate them to be mindful of the environment, but taking on visitors is often more work than handling residents. Visitors may account for fewer berths, but they demand more of the staff’s time. It’s sometimes hard to imagine taking on more visitors, but being a sustainable marina means being part of an industry-wide effort to handle the increasing demand of boaters properly.

We’ve teamed up with Pick a Pier as our official digital partner to do just that. Blue Flag marinas can use Pick a Pier to handle new reservations and communicate with visitors more easily, which means they can work faster and smarter. 

Digitising for Optimal Reservations

The first and foremost function of Pick a Pier is digitising the reservation process. Our marinas can now receive a reservation request online, send a quote based on the boat’s specifications, and also request any documents you need. You can even set up prices ahead of time to send automatic quotes and keep records on file for repeat visitors. All this saves time, reduces paperwork, and makes errors less likely. And rest your worries—the platform is certified with the highest internet security and privacy standards, including  GDPR compliance.

We recommend using Pick a Pier to move away from the pen and paper process. Not only to make it easier on the marina’s staff but also to provide a better experience for visiting boaters, allowing them to spend less time on bureaucracy and enjoy an improved customer experience. The increased efficiency and time-saving is a boon to all marinas using Pick a Pier and can even help them take on more reservations.

Interconnecting to Increase Visibility

Our marinas can enjoy another advantage by listing on Pick a Pier’s boater platform, which offers a searchable marketplace for marinas. Boaters can find a marina in their planned destination, read up details about it, and make a reservation with a click.

Having many marinas on the platform allows boaters to have more information about where they are heading, making it easier for them to choose the best marina for them. Simply by having your marina on the platform, marina managers join a network of accessible marinas, and boaters are much more likely to make a reservation with them.

A Forward-Thinking Communication Experience

We know that some of the most time-consuming customer interactions are often the result of poor or slow communication. Through Pick a Pier’s built-in chat, marinas can correspond directly with boaters, ensuring immediate communication with a log to prevent misunderstandings.

Being able to contact the marina directly in this manner means customers don’t need to visit the marina offices to handle any issues they might have, freeing time for the marina staff.

Better Sustainability for the Long Run

Perhaps the most crucial benefit of encouraging more visitors to the marina is its impact on the sustainability of the boating industry as a whole. There is greater demand for berthing spots, but building new marinas is harmful to the coastline and is not a viable solution. Marinas need to do more with the resources they have.

At Blue Flag, we’ve always believed that sustainability is also good business. Marinas adopting sustainable practices can do more with the resources they have. We chose Pick a Pier as our partner because it works with marinas to streamline their operations and with boaters to encourage sustainable practices. With Pick a Pier, marinas have the tools to achieve and maintain Blue Flag’s standards.

Working With, Not Instead

Pick a Pier’s solutions are not meant to supersede valuable marina staff. Rather, they empower team members with more freedom and flexibility in managing their workload, allowing them to welcome more visitors. Through the quick implementation of digital tools, our marinas can turn repetitive and burdensome tasks into automated flows without radically changing their current methods. With the most advanced, user-friendly technology, marinas can reach their full potential with hardly any need for training— reducing human error and creating a more accessible, convenient and sustainable boating industry for all.

Interconnecting to Increase Visibility

Our marinas can enjoy another advantage by listing on Pick a Pier’s boater platform, which offers a searchable marketplace for marinas. Boaters can find a marina in their planned destination, read up details about it, and make a reservation with a click.

Having many marinas on the platform allows boaters to have more information about where they are heading, making it easier for them to choose the best marina for them. Simply by having your marina on the platform, marina managers join a network of accessible marinas, and boaters are much more likely to make a reservation with them.

A Forward-Thinking Communication Experience

We know that some of the most time-consuming customer interactions are often the result of poor or slow communication. Through Pick a Pier’s built-in chat, marinas can correspond directly with boaters, ensuring immediate communication with a log to prevent misunderstandings.

Being able to contact the marina directly in this manner means customers don’t need to visit the marina offices to handle any issues they might have, freeing time for the marina staff.

Better Sustainability for the Long Run

Perhaps the most crucial benefit of encouraging more visitors to the marina is its impact on the sustainability of the boating industry as a whole. There is greater demand for berthing spots, but building new marinas is harmful to the coastline and is not a viable solution. Marinas need to do more with the resources they have.

At Blue Flag, we’ve always believed that sustainability is also good business. Marinas adopting sustainable practices can do more with the resources they have. We chose Pick a Pier as our partner because it works with marinas to streamline their operations and with boaters to encourage sustainable practices. With Pick a Pier, marinas have the tools to achieve and maintain Blue Flag’s standards.

Working With, Not Instead

Pick a Pier’s solutions are not meant to supersede valuable marina staff. Rather, they empower team members with more freedom and flexibility in managing their workload, allowing them to welcome more visitors. Through the quick implementation of digital tools, our marinas can turn repetitive and burdensome tasks into automated flows without radically changing their current methods. With the most advanced, user-friendly technology, marinas can reach their full potential with hardly any need for training— reducing human error and creating a more accessible, convenient and sustainable boating industry for all.

FEE joins celebrations of this year’s World Tourism Day on ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

On this World Tourism Day, which is dedicated to tourism’s potential to foster and promote inclusive growth, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is celebrating the achievements of its two tourism-related programmes, Blue Flag and Green Key, and their contribution to increasing inclusivity in the tourism sector.

Official message from the Foundation for Environmental Education’s CEO, Daniel Schaffer

As the world’s largest environmental education organisation, with members of all shapes and sizes in every corner of the world, inclusiveness is not only a core value for FEE but also a precondition for the sustainable development of our programmes. By involving multi-stakeholder approaches in our processes and including the voices of different interest groups, our programmes can ensure the long-term success of sustainable tourism development within local communities.

However, we believe that this does not only apply to our programmes, but to the tourism sector in general. Only if we strive for inclusive decision-making processes and empower all members of society can the positive economic and social benefits of tourism really be available to the whole community.

An example of inclusiveness through FEE’s Blue Flag programme is its work with accessibility organisations to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy both the economic and recreational benefits of tourism. For example, the Paradisus brand, manager of two Blue Flag awarded beaches in the Dominican Republic, implemented an inclusion programme that gives work opportunities to people with hearing, visual or motor disabilities, while the programme in South Africa initiated the “Beach Stewards” project for the development and skills-training of unemployed youth for future employment in the eco-tourism sector. Furthermore, the Blue Flag programme promotes accessibility on beaches to make sure that everyone can enjoy them safely.

Photo credit: WESSA

In light of the latest global events, we have once again realised how important the tourism industry is and how many livelihoods directly and indirectly depend on it. Sadly, we have also once again come to witness that the impact of these kinds of events is worst for the most vulnerable members of society. A thriving, strong community must practice an inclusive approach that takes all its members into account and allows them to have a stake in decision-making.  

Similar to how the pandemic affected the most vulnerable groups, so do the critical issues of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which are at the heart of FEE’s GAIA 20:30 strategy to drive positive change over the next decade. At FEE it is our mission to empower people of all ages, genders, abilities, and classes to be part of the solution and build a future that benefits everyone.

A recent example of how FEE empowers people through education is our project on Education for Sustainable Development in the tourism sector. Within the scope of this project, hospitality professionals in Cambodia received training on sustainable practices to build their capacity to create a positive impact on the local community through their businesses. It was carried out through the Green Key programme in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Changing mindsets about inclusivity and tackling the challenges presented in FEE's GAIA 20:30 strategy, through either top-down processes or through grassroot initiatives, requires educational tools and resources for many different audiences.  FEE recognises that education is an essential element for driving positive change and will continue to embed education in all its programmes and initiatives.

Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism Development in Nature Areas

Over the past months, Blue Flag International has joined the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Affiliate Members network to provide best practices towards Accessibility and Inclusive Tourism Development in Nature Areas.

The publication and some of the best practices have been presented at the FITUR 2021 in Madrid earlier this month. Blue Flag International was represented by the Blue Flag Spanish Operator, ADEAC.

To read the newly released UNWTO publication, click on the pictures below!

The Sea Pastic vessel

Sea Plastics, an association founded in 2016 by three students from the French engineering school AgroParisTech, has developed an environmental awareness and awareness action plan as they pass through Valencia, together with the Lycée Français and in collaboration with the Oceanogràfic Foundation, on micro plastics, based on RCN de Valencia from where they will explain their research to the public and report on this environmental problem.

Today's event was attended by Paula Puzón. Regional Secretary for the Environment of the Generalitat Valenciana, accompanied by Juan i Huguet. Regional Secretary for Innovation and Digital Transformation; Marisa Tejerizo and Marisa Bueno from the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition; Sergi Campillo, Vice Mayor of the Valencia City Council, accompanied by Giusepe Gressi, Councilor; Ana Viciano. Head of the beaches of the Valencia City Council; Virginia Yuste, Vice President of ADEAC- Blue Flag program; Ana Pérez-Montero. Technical Director of ADEAC; Celia Calabuig. President of the Valencia Oceanogràfic Foundation; Pepa Ferrando and Elena Balaguer from the Valencia Oceanogràfic Foundation; Dimitri Jelinski. President of SEA Plastics, accompanied by its Vice President Lorraine Wemaere, as well as Manon Vichot and Hélène Lovato; Alejandro Fliquete, president of the RCN Valencia, together with José Rubio Vice-president, Salvador Bueno Secretary General, Carlos de Beltrán, Manager of the RCN of Valencia.

Attendee statements:

“For the Real Club Náutico of Valencia, it is an honor to be able to have the Sea Plastics vessel in our facilities today and to use the Club as a base port. From here they will explain to the public the research they have carried out on this environmental problem, together with Lycée Français and in collaboration with the Oceanographic Foundation.

Discharges into the sea - especially plastics - are causing serious damage to the environment and seriously damaging our environment.

From the Club we want to educate all our sailors and, especially, the young people who are taking their first steps in sailing, of the importance for humanity of taking maximum care of this precious asset as the sea. It is the great lung that we have on our planet and we are obliged to take care of it and protect it ”, explains Alejandro Fliquete.

“The research we are carrying out aims to study the plastic fragments of less than 5 millimeters present in the Mediterranean, by taking water samples from the surface up to 50 meters deep. The expedition is also developing new protocols for taking samples of nanoplastics, invisible to the human eye, but very numerous. ”- declares Manon Vichot, Secretary of Sea Plastics.

“When SEA Plastics contacted Blue Flag, we did not hesitate to put ourselves at their disposal to facilitate their journey between the marinas of Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, as it’s very important to us to investigate the micro-plastics that are affecting our Mediterranean Sea so much. Invisible pollution is one of the issues on which we try to raise public awareness through our environmental education programs”. - declares Virginia Yuste, Vice President of ADEAC

“This year, more than ever, we have seen the importance of preserving and restoring biodiversity in our ecosystems. The analysis of water quality and research such as the Sea Plastics project are essential to develop initiatives aimed at reducing plastics and micro-plastics in the marine environment”, declares Paula Tuzón, Regional Secretary for Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition of the Valencian generalitat.

Tuzón has highlighted the impulse and support of the Department of all actions aimed at improving water quality and has valued "the search for solutions to the problem of plastic in the seas, from the base of knowledge and scientific study".

The Vice Mayor of Valencia and Councilor for Urban Ecology, Sergi Campillo, welcomed the arrival of the Sea Plastics ship to the city to “raise awareness, based on science and research, of the need to reduce the consumption of packaging and plastics, and that in case of doing so they are deposited in the yellow containers to facilitate their recycling”.

The deputy mayor recalled that the fight against the pollution of plastics and micro-plastics in the sea and in our natural landscapes is collective "it is up to the administrations and the citizens as a whole."

For Campillo, “it is very important to become aware of the serious environmental crisis that the planet is suffering caused not only by the effect of the increase in temperatures as a result of the use of fossil fuels but also by the contamination of plastics and micro-plastics in the environment. Marine".

“The Oceanographic Foundation works to protect the environment and marine life. Among its different lines of research and conservation, it has a marine litter monitoring project together with MITECO through which the reality of beaches can be learned and allows the population to be aware of the importance of caring for the oceans. In collaboration with SEA Plastics, as well as with other entities for environmental purposes, it has carried out a beach clean-up and returned a turtle recovered in the ARCA del Mar to the sea.

For the Oceanographic Foundation it is a pleasure and recognition to be able to join forces with those of an organization like SEA Plastics, because thanks to alliances of this type we are able to raise awareness among more people and thus achieve a change. ”- Elena Belenguer tells us.

Blue Flag and Pick a Pier Join Forces in Rewarding Sustainable Maritime Businesses

Pick a Pier's robust digital platform will help Blue Flag marinas enhance communication with their customers, enjoy greater exposure for their sustainable business practices, and encourage boaters to protect the maritime ecosystem.

As the sailing season begins, boaters have started to venture overseas to their favourite cruising grounds. Marinas of the Blue Flag network will be ready to meet them with added value: Pick a Pier's digital membership.

Pick a Pier developed a new digital system, which will enable the boost of the maritime environmental agenda. Thanks to Pick a Pier's platform, we will reduce the ecological impact of marinas, encourage environment-friendly behaviour among boaters, and reward sustainable businesses with greater visibility and recognition. The partnership covers a full array of free tools, state of the art technology and unprecedented solutions to the Blue Flag Marinas.

At the center of the partnership is a Sustainable Sailing Code of Conduct that will extend the reach of Blue Flag’s commitment amongst a growing boater community. Together, Blue Flag and Pick a Pier will gather tangible evidence to the benefits of sustainable practices and help the industry become more environmentally-minded.

With Pick a Pier's state-of-the-art digital platform, boaters will be able to easily identify Blue Flag accredited marinas when planning their sailing trip and stay informed of best practices to preserve the maritime environment. Boat owners can leverage a digital membership card, make berthing reservations at select marinas, and communicate directly with marina operators. The result is an optimized customer journey—easy, convenient, and sustainable. By joining the Pick a Pier Super Network, Blue Flag marinas become connected to many others across the world, thereby benefiting from increased, high-quality traffic.

"Pick a Pier shares Blue Flag's commitment to keeping our waters clean and blue," says Pick a Pier CEO Idan Cohen. "This partnership will encourage businesses and boaters to work together in reducing the environmental impact of sailing and will demonstrate the benefits of sustainable practices at sea. We are excited to be leading the industry towards a sustainable future, combining a customer-centric experience, advanced supply management technology, and environmental awareness.”

“Blue Flag is proud to be partnering with a company that combines excellent customer service with an environmentally-friendly agenda. Through this partnership, we will reach a wide audience, from marinas to boaters, and will raise awareness of coastal sustainability," adds Sophie Bachet Granados, Blue Flag International Director.

We are very excited to begin this journey with Pick a Pier. Their dedicated support team is available to assist with any question. We encourage you to activate your marina profile today on blueflag.pickapier.com

Blue Flag Turkey fights marine litter

Notwithstanding the tough year behind us, one of our Blue Flag members, Blue Flag Turkey, has not stopped protecting their beaches. Their work against marine litter in Sardala Bay, Kındılçesme and Şile was recorded and plotted on the European Environment Agency marine litter maps, with the intention to guarantee a cleaner and safer environment for future generations.

2020 has been a year that made us face extraordinary changes in our daily lives. However, issues such as marine litter have not disappeared, and Blue Flag members are here to try to change this situation. As a matter of fact, Blue Flag Turkey has tried its best during the past year for the well being of future generations. The three studies conducted and physical efforts made to fight against marine litter have involved Sardala Bay, Kındılçesme, and Şile.

Research and achievements

The first study was conducted by Marine Litter Monitoring in Sardala Bay in Kocaeli. Kocaeli Municipality, Kandıra county municipality, and Bağırganlı Elementary school students accompanied the study. According to Marine Litter Watch criteria; the study is conducted in 100 metered long coastal areas, and 939 pieces of waste are collected in an hour! 421 cigarette butts, 42 glass bottles, 37 plastic bottle caps,26 food packages, 29 beverage cans, and 17 surgical masks were the most common wastes that have found. 

The second MLW area was the Kındılçesme picnic field, which is located in between two awarded beaches in Kemer, Antalya, on the 3rd of November. This area was no exception and a wide variety of litter was found: 20 plastic bags, 116 cigarette butts, 47 metal caps,7  surgical masks, and 26 pieces of fishnet.

The last study was held in Şile – İstanbul on 27th November. It was held in the area between the Blue Flag awarded beaches and 1 km from the non-award-winning Uzunkum beach. Şile Municipality Deputy Mayor, Soner Berksan Şile Municipality Directorate of Environmental Protection and Control and Survey Project Manager accompanied us during the study. Among all kinds of waste left by picnickers, fluorescent lamps, and bulbs stroke our attention! Out of the 571 pieces of waste we found, 546 were plastic, which was very sad to find out. Also; 120 Polystyrene products,111 plastic caps, 96 shopping bags, beverage bottles, beverage cups, foam sponge, and rope and cord, were the most common wastes we found. In addition to these, we also encountered wastes such as diapers, syringes, lighters, combs, cosmetics, medicine containers, etc.

Blu Flag Turkey’s commitment continues

All the litter was plotted and recorded on European Environment Agency Marine Litter Watch maps. To maintain these areas clean and safe, Bue Flag Turkey is committing to work in these areas 4 times this year. Besides, the collaboration of Blue Flag Turkey with the authorities and the public makes us proud and motivates us to keep raising awareness and protect our beautiful beaches from marine litter.