In search of sustainability

Sustainability has been an increasingly present theme in our lives, with more and more people – especially the younger generations – becoming aware and committing to adopt more ecological practices in their lives. The commitment to upholding these values ​​is not a passing effort and grows as we face the future.

As such, the Azores were not indifferent to this movement, having taken the lead in the development and implementation of proactive practices to protect nature and its most important resources.

In fact, it may surprise you, but the Azores were the first archipelago in the world to obtain international certification as a Sustainable Tourist Destination. While this certification is an honor, the Azores have continued their efforts to ensure that the archipelago is doing everything in its power to adopt and maintain various sustainable practices.

An example of this was the initiative that took place between the 26th of July and the 4th of September on several beaches in the archipelago. The campaign “The beach is not an ashtray” covered several beaches promoting the distribution of ashtrays and actions to collect cigarette butts and other waste from the sand, with the aim of raising awareness of the need to keep beaches clean and preserve the environment. This type of garbage degrades very slowly, being one of the most present residues in nature, leading a large percentage to end up in oceans, rivers and beaches around the world.

At the end of this initiative, around 13,700 ashtrays were distributed on the beaches of Portugal and the Azores and several hundred liters of cigarette butts were also collected on the various beaches where the initiative took place.

This initiative is a proactive approach that the Azores have taken on their path to sustainability, which shows the true commitment of this destination to sustainability, today and in the future. Thanks to efforts like this, we can honestly say that the future will be more sustainable in the Azores.

Source: https://www.dn.pt/dinheiro/areais-mais-limpos-no-final-do-verao-15216648.html