Marriott International is enhancing its commitment to sustainability through an extended partnership with Sungai Watch, a prominent environmental organization dedicated to combating plastic pollution in Indonesia. This collaboration has already yielded significant results, including the removal of over 65,500 kilograms of plastic waste and the installation of 19 river barriers, surpassing initial targets. With plans to remove an additional 100,000 kilograms of plastic waste by April 2025, Marriott's renewed initiative not only supports its 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals but also contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In recognition of its impactful achievements resulting from this partnership, Marriott International extends the full sponsorship of Sungai Watch’s Singaraja Waste Sorting Facility operation for another
year.
“We are proud of the progress achieved through our partnership with Sungai Watch. These remarkable accomplishments underscore Marriott International’s Serve 360 commitment to bringing a positive impact to the communities where we operate,” stated Martin Ehlers, General Manager of Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa and Chairman of Marriott Business Council Indonesia.
Marriott International and Sungai Watch hosted a Launch Event in Singaraja on May 15, 2024 to commemorate this renewed partnership. In a shared vision towards sustainability, the event `commenced with a cleanup drive along the Singaraja river near the Singaraja Station. It was followed by a visit to the Singaraja Waste Sorting Facility and concluded with a sharing session fostering community engagement and awareness. Participated in by 175 representatives from Marriott Business Council Bali, Sungai Watch, and local community members, almost 1,540 kilograms of plastic waste were successfully removed from the rivers on that day.
“Sungai Watch is pleased to continue our partnership with Marriott International in our mission to clean Indonesia’s rivers and prevent plastic pollution from reaching our oceans. Since last year, our collaboration has already made significant progress in North Bali. This renewed partnership is instrumental for our commitment to environmental protection. We look forward to continuing our impactful work with Marriott International in Indonesia,” said Sam Bencheghib, Co-Founder of Sungai Watch.
In addition to their commitment to preventing plastic waste from entering Bali’s waters, Marriott Business Council Indonesia aims to extend the collaborative efforts with Sungai Watch to support communities beyond the island, with the operation of the second Sungai Watch’s Waste Sorting Facility in Bekasi, West Java, scheduled to open in Q4 2024. Funding for these commitments is raised through Marriott International’s key annual fundraising events, including the Marriott International Charity Golf Indonesia in Bali on June 15, 2024 and in Jakarta on August 10, 2024, as well as the Road to Give Indonesia 2024 in Q3 this year.
For more information on Marriott International’s community empowerment initiatives, visit Serve360.marriott.com.
