SSA Group, an award-winning provider of visitor amenities, has helped a leading aquarium to dramatically reduce waste in California, US. Approximately nine million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, which equates to a rubbish truck full of plastic each minute.
One of SSA’s clients, Monterey Bay Aquarium, has now transformed its gift shop to be completely free of single-use plastic packaging. The extensive process involved identifying which products included single-use packaging, and planning how to replace those items, taking several years to complete.
The feat was broken down into smaller tasks by focusing on one product at a time, asking vendors to eliminate single-use plastic in their packaging and product ranges. Examples of achievements by the team include persuading manufacturers to remove shrink wrap in puzzles, change stuffed animal eyes from plastic to sewn-on, and biodegradable hang tags, with similar agreements culminating to create a wider impact.
SSA operates retail gift shops, daytime visitor dining and full-service catering for Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium opened in 1984 and is home to over 550 species. It was recently named one of the top aquariums in the US and is visited by approximately 2 million visitors each year.
Regenerating sustainable retail
SSA is looking to replicate the impact it has made with Monterey Bay Aquarium throughout the portfolio of cultural attractions it works at throughout the US.
A key issue that SSA has looked to tackle are the single-use plastic bottles that can quickly fill rubbish bins. The firm partnered with manufacturers Ball Cup to create a limited-edition line of aluminium souvenir cups, designed to replace these plastic water bottles at its attractions. This provides not just environmental benefits, as the brand is then brought home and able to be seen by guests for the bottle’s lifetime.
The company also partnered with Wild Republic, an eco-friendly specialist, to find a long-term solution for cutting down SSA’s carbon footprint. The end result was a range of products that included stuffed animals created from 100% post-consumer PET bottles. The manufacturer also removed all unnecessary single-use packaging from these lines.
The long game
SSA has continued to look for opportunities in its restaurant spaces, replacing plastic bottled drinks with alternatives such as boxed and canned water. There is also planned to be a greater emphasis on compostable or reusable dining cutlery.
An SSA representative says: “SSA has set our sights on making a difference around single-use plastic where we can, one measure at a time. We believe in the long game. In the power of small actions to create long-term success for our communities and our world.”
Earlier this year, SSA was added to AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums‘, Commercial Member Engagement Council (CMEC), which is designed to carry out the organisation’s mission of “respecting, valuing, and conserving wildlife and wild places”.
