International Airport joins the #ChaoBombillas (#GoodbyeStraws) campaign
Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt underlined how the airport can send out a message of caring for the environment to the tens of thousands of passengers who pass through its terminals every day, along with encouraging other countries to join the crusade against plastic pollution.
The Minister also stressed that along with all the straws that were being kept out of the environment, the airport also represents a huge publicity platform for the campaign, given the 20 million passengers who pass through its terminals each year. "Having the airport join our campaign allows us to spread our message to all the visitors who come to our country that they should care for and protect the natural environment. And when travelers return home they can also share the message that the battle against plastic pollution depends on people changing their habits and incorporating more environmentally-friendly practices, such as rejecting single-use plastics including straws,” said Schmidt.
The Minister added that "it’s been a month since the official launch of the #ChaoBombillas campaign and we’ve already had a great response, not only in Santiago but throughout the country, with hundreds of establishments joining the campaign including restaurants, schools, hotels, coffee shops and stadiums all over Chile ... and now the International Airport."
The initiative adopted by the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport forms part of a package of actions that have already begun within the air terminal. "Our commitment is to move day by day towards a more environmentally-friendly airport. To this end, we are not only reducing to a minimum the use of plastic straws, but we’ve also signed up to a supply of clean and renewable electric power for at least the next 18 years, along with implementing a plan to change over to LED technology, and the installation of solar panels for some sections of the new terminal," said Branko Karlezi, the airport’s deputy manager of communications.
The Environment Ministry has called on all businesses that provide plastic straws to join the campaign, especially those located in the air terminals, so that they can help protect their regions and support the dissemination of a campaign dealing with a problem that affects everyone: plastic pollution.
What’s the best way of formally joining the #ChaoBombillas campaign?
By visiting www.chaobombillas.cl and accepting the challenge of reducing your use of plastic straws.
Then all you have to do is complete the application form with your business information and we’ll send you the Chao Bombillas sticker to your physical address, so that you can place it where you deem most appropriate and help generate a change of consciousness in the use of plastic straws.