More than 230 kg of waste removed: Large regional cleaning operation in nine Resorts

Cans, bottles, plastic bags, pieces of scrap metal, abandoned fishing nets and other trash buried in the sand or trapped in the seabed. In total, more than 230 kg of waste was removed from the lagoons and coastlines of the Indian Ocean during a vast environmental operation carried out simultaneously by The Lux Collective in nine Resorts in Mauritius, the Maldives, Reunion and Reunion Island. Zanzibar. Organized on June 6 on the occasion of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, this mobilization brought together more than 280 participants around a common objective: protecting marine and coastal ecosystems from region.

This regional initiative has its origins in Mauritius. Anisha Boojihawon, head of public relations and marketing at LUX* Belle Mare, explains that a first similar operation was organized two years ago on the occasion of World Oceans Day. “We brought together local divers, members of the Special Mobile Force, firefighters, snorkelers and our partner Eco-Sud to clean the beach and the lagoon. The enthusiasm aroused by this first edition convinced us to think bigger,” she explained. Building on the success encountered, the team decided this year to extend the initiative to all establishments in the group in Mauritius, but also in the Maldives and Reunion Island, while associating the partner hotels SALT and Tamassa. Nine establishments of the group took part in this simultaneous environmental operation. In Mauritius, six Resorts have mobilized: LUX* Grand Baie, LUX* Grand Gaube, LUX* Belle Mare, LUX* Le Morne, SALT of Palmar and Tamassa Bel Ombre. They were joined by LUX* South Ari Atoll in the Maldives, LUX* Saint Gilles in La Réunion and LUX* Marijani in Zanzibar. Each participating establishment declined the initiative according to its environment and local specificities. The operations included cleaning of lagoons and coral reefs, carried out by scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as waste collections on the beaches. The recovered waste was then sorted in order to facilitate its recycling. In parallel with field actions, the Resorts also hosted workshops, discussions and awareness sessions devoted to the protection of the oceans and the preservation of coastal ecosystems. These activities were led by NGOs and environmental specialists.

Raising awareness beyond cleaning

For Anisha Boojihawon, the main objective of this initiative goes far beyond simple waste collection. “One day of cleaning will not be enough to solve the pollution problem. What we want above all is to raise public awareness and show the impact of our actions on the beaches.