Contribute to our efforts to be more sustainable, environmentally-friendly and move closer to our global net zero targets.
1. Explore in an eco-friendly ride
Rent an electric car from Go Car Rentals or check out the cool new electric Mokes from eMoke.
2. Plant some trees
Check out Walkers Reserve, to participate in the One Tree for Every Bajan initiative, or Coco Hill Forest as part of their efforts to build back and protect the biodiversity that was lost to sugar cane monoculture. You’ll also be off-setting some of the carbon from your flight!
3. Use reef safe sunblock
Make sure it doesn’t contain oxybenzone or octinoxate which kill coral on our precious reef ecosystems. Better yet, skip the sunscreen and wear a rashguard and hat. Available from Hazell’s Waterworld.
4. Adopt a coral or take part in a beach clean up
Check out CORALL Barbados who do important reef conservation work. corallbarbados.org. Or help replanting Staghorn coral while scuba diving with Barbados Blue. divebarbadosblue.com
5. Try new local foods
Look out for breadfruit, yams and mangos, helping to reduce our food imports and supporting local farmers. Check out our recipes on how to prepare them, pg 110.
6. Eat sustainable fish
Choose lionfish, flying fish and mahi mahi from menus and say no to overfished species like parrot fish (chub), marlin and shark. Check out Slow Food Buyers Guide, pg 110.
7. Drink tap water
Our Bajan water is safe to drink. But if you choose to buy bottled water, try Eco Sky Water, a local brand using solar powered atmospheric water generation with plant-based bottles which are backyard compostable. ecoskywater.com
8. Avoid single use plastics
Take your own bags shopping, say no to plastic straws and use a refillable water bottle.
Mount Gay Rum
Famous as the oldest rum distillery in the world, Mount Gay Rum is serious about sustainability. Here’s a quick summary of what they’re working on at the moment, targeting five pillars:
Agriculture and biodiversity: Annually planting 1,000 trees and increasing their beehive by 50%
Energy: Installing solar panels on all roofs with the target of 100% renewable energy by 2028
Water: Conserving water for our water-scarce country by using vinasse (a bi-product of sugar distillation) for irrigation in their fields
Carbon footprint: Reducing the weight of rum bottles for more efficient shipping, and swapping to more recyclable packaging
Community: Working with local universities for scholarships, and industry associations to promote safe drinking.
