Latest products for tourism industry go green

Today the first annual Hotel and Hospitality Expo was officially launched at the Princess Hotel in Belize City. According to organiser Robin McCutcheon, the one day event was designed to showcase service and décor items now available to the tourism industry. And as we found out, one of the newest additions to the market is a line of biodegradable food containers and eating utensils as well as environmentally friendly cleaning products. Luis Garcia, General Manager of Eco-Friendly Solutions explains.

Luis Garcia, General Manager, Eco-Friendly Solutions
“Bags, cups and plates made out corn, they are fully bio-degradable in four months and also environmentally friendly cleaners which are Ph neutral cleaners.”

Marion Ali
“These are made in Belize, and how are they made?”

Luis Garcia
“These products we do the moldings and we have worked in the research, along with Nature Works in the P.L.A. line and we’ve worked with Eco Green in the corn line in starch and now we are doing the molding and the products are sent to production in China.”

Marion Ali
“Compare the prices of these products to regular products.”

Luis Garcia
“The P.L.A. which are the transparent cups are much higher in price, I would say probably double, the corn will probably be just a cent or two cents more expensive.”

Marion Ali
“So how do you market something like this, yes it’s safe but it’s costly.”

Luis Garcia
”Well, what is the cost of saving the environment is the question. I think that people who are environmentally conscious and realize what Styrofoam and plastic are doing, not only to the environment but to the health of Belizeans, then I think change will come.”

According to Garcia, the biodegradable line of products includes plates, cups, knives, forks and bags. All the containers are freezer and microwave safe.