GIZ, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, CHTA, and CAST to advance circular economy solutions across four Caribbean nations

Kingston, Jamaica – October 2025 – A regional initiative is currently being implemented to tackle one of the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry’s most pressing environmental and operational cost challenges: food waste. The project, titled “Sustainable Food Waste Management in the Tourism Sector in the Caribbean” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the framework of the (Name of SFF Project). Partners include the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). Huffnagle Ventures, experts in global and Caribbean sustainable tourism and food waste approaches, has been contracted as consultants.

Spanning January to October 2025, this initiative is reviewing food waste reduction and management strategies across the Caribbean, initially working with several hotels and destinations in the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia. The project seeks to strengthen sustainable tourism practices by embedding circular economy principles that reduce, repurpose, and transform food waste into valuable resources. Lessons learned from working with those hotels and from research being undertaken region-wide will then be shared with hotels and tourism service providers throughout the Caribbean.

“Our goal is to equip the hospitality and tourism industry with the tools and knowledge to take practical action to become better environmental stewards and to reduce costs associated with waste,” said Vanessa Ledesma, CEO for CHTA. “The support of the industry partners, staff, and national stakeholders will be essential part to the management of costs and protection of our precious and essential environmental resources.”

Key activities of the project include:
Conducting situational analyses of food waste practices at participating hotels
Developing a regional model food waste management strategy and action plan
Hosting training and sensitization webinars for hotel staff and stakeholders in the hospitality sector across the Caribbean

“Tourism represents around 11% of the Caribbean’s GDP and accounts for more than 40% of GDP in a third of the region’s jurisdictions. It is a vital engine for jobs, tax revenues, and economic opportunities,” said [Jasmin Ellen-Jones, Regional Director, GIZ]. “At the same time, the sector generates a considerable share of organic waste ending up in landfills. By tackling food waste in hotels, we can reduce environmental pressures while strengthening food security, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing community resilience – fully in line with circular economy principles. The circular economy is one key area for GIZ’s work in the Caribbean, where we are supporting initiatives on food and organic waste management, the use of sargassum, and the creation of green and blue jobs. More projects are underway, reflecting our commitment to building sustainable, future-oriented economies across the region.”

“At the CBF, we see the circular economy as a vital lever for advancing sustainable development in the Caribbean. It not only reduces environmental pressures but also strengthens local economies. We are proud to work with our partners to bring about circular solutions across islands,” said Karen McDonald-Gayle, CEO, CBF.
For more information about the project or to learn how to participate in upcoming training sessions, please visit the social media pages of any of the organisations involved in the project.

About the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, with 24,530 employees. GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. The business volume is around EUR 4 billion. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in around 120 countries in achieving their objectives in international cooperation. With this aim, GIZ works with its partners to develop effective solutions that offer people better prospects and sustainably improve their living conditions.

About the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF)
The CBF is a regional environmental fund that works to ensure long-term, reliable funding for conservation and sustainable development in the Caribbean. Its Nature-based Economies Program supports scalable circular economy solutions, including sustainable tourism initiatives. Learn more at www.caribbeanbiodiversityfund.org.

About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the leading organization representing the interests of the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry for more than 60 years, with 32 National Hotel Associations as well as 1,000 diverse members spanning hotels, resorts, tourism providers, and allied partners across the region and beyond. To learn more about membership benefits and upcoming virtual and in-person events, please visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.

About Huffnagle Ventures
Huffnagle Ventures is a consultancy specialized in food waste, sustainable tourism, and data management. Its experts have advanced circularity and resilience strategies for governments, tourism businesses, and communities. The team supports circular economy solutions, destination resilience, and market transformation in Caribbean and global tourism sectors.